Tag Archives: gadhafi

Down With The “King”: Thousands Of Libyans Line Up To See The Bloody Body Of Moammar Gadhafi Laying In A Freezer

Come one, come all, Moammar Gadhafi has taken a fall… Moammar Gadhafi’s blood-streaked body was on display in a commercial freezer at a shopping center as Libyan authorities argued about what to do with his remains and questions deepened over official accounts of the longtime dictator’s death. Also Friday, new video emerged of his violent, chaotic last moments, showing fighters beating him as they drag him away. Nearly every aspect of Thursday’s killing of Gadhafi was mired in confusion, a sign of the difficulties ahead for Libya. Its new rulers are disorganized, its people embittered and divided. But the ruling National Transitional Council said it would declare the country’s liberation on Saturday, the starting point for a timetable that calls for a new interim government within a month and elections within eight months. The top U.N. rights chief raised concerns that Gadhafi may have been shot to death after being captured alive. The fate of his body seemed tied up in squabbles among Libya’s factions, as fighters from Misrata — a city brutally besieged by Gadhafi’s forces during the civil war — seemed to claim ownership of it, forcing the delay of a planned burial Friday. In Misrata, residents crowded into long lines to get a chance to view the body of Gadhafi, which was laid out on a mattress on the floor of an emptied-out vegetable and onions freezer at a local shopping center. The body had apparently been stowed in the freezer in an attempt to keep it out of the public eye, but once the location was known, that intention was swept away in the overwhelming desire of residents to see the man they so deeply despised. Men, women and children filed in to take their picture with the body. The site’s guards had even organized separate visiting hours for families and single men. “We want to see the dog,” some chanted. Gadhafi’s 69-year-old body was stripped to the waist, his torso and arms streaked with dried blood. Bullet wounds in the chest, abdomen and left side of the head were visible. Would you have waited in line to see the dead body of your former oppressor? Source

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Down With The “King”: Thousands Of Libyans Line Up To See The Bloody Body Of Moammar Gadhafi Laying In A Freezer

And It Don’t Stop: Rebel Forces Bring The Fight To Gadhafi’s Front Porch

No, the conflict in Libya is not over yet. Yes, Muammar/Moammar Gadhafi/Qaddafi is still in power… and U.S. troops are still out on our dime. But it’s not all bad news. With the support of France, England, the U.S. and the U.N., rebel forces in Libya are actually making some headway in their fight for freedom. Rebel forces battled the government outside Moammar Gadhafi’s hometown and stronghold of Sirte as Western and Arab nations prepared to meet in London Tuesday to seek an exit for Libya’s long time leader. Thanks to international airstrikes begun March 19, Libya’s rebels are in a much stronger position than a week ago, having recaptured all the territory lost earlier to Gadhafi’s forces, including two key oil terminals. But the rebels remain woefully outgunned by Gadhafi’s forces and it is unclear how they can take the stronghold of Sirte without further aggressive international air support. Attacks on Monday were repelled by heavy mortar and rocket fire. Rebels acknowledged they could not have taken so much ground without the air and cruise missile strikes. Libya state television reported new NATO airstrikes after nightfall, targeting “military and civilian targets” in the cities of Garyan and Mizda about 40 miles and 90 miles respectively from Tripoli. NATO insisted that it was seeking only to protect civilians and not to give air cover to an opposition march. But that line looked set to become even more blurred. The airstrikes now are clearly enabling rebels bent on overthrowing Gadhafi to push toward the final line of defense on the road to the capital. Meanwhile, the world’s “super powers” are set to get together in London this week to do what they do best: figure out how to pressure a third world leader into doing what they want him to do. International leaders were gathering in London on Tuesday seeking to plot out an endgame for Moammar Gadhafi’s tottering regime and to strike agreement on plans for Libya’s future. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, the Arab League and as many as 40 global foreign ministers were joining the talks — seeking to ratchet up pressure on Gadhafi to quit. Italy’s Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said several nations planned to table a joint deal aimed at swiftly ending the conflict, setting out proposals for a cease-fire, exile for Gadhafi and a framework for talks on Libya’s future between tribal leaders and opposition figures. Oh. So we might see an end to this by summer? SMH. Source 1 Source 2

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And It Don’t Stop: Rebel Forces Bring The Fight To Gadhafi’s Front Porch

US/UN Military Action In Libya Could Start As Early As Sunday

Now that Moammar Gadhafi has closed off the airspace around Libya and threatened to hit the people with a “final assault,” the U.N. has voted to take “all necessary means” to protect the people of Libya. The U.N. Security Council resolution was approved late Thursday with the backing of the United States, France and Britain, hours after Gadhafi vowed to launch a final assault and crush the nearly 5-week-old rebellion against him. President Barack Obama telephoned the leaders of Britain and France after the vote, the White House said. U.S. officials speaking after a closed-door briefing in Congress said the attempt to ground Gadhafi’s air force could begin by Sunday or Monday with the use of jet fighters, bombers and surveillance aircraft. The British Cabinet held an emergency meeting as British planes were expected to take part in the international military action. NATO envoys in Brussels also were considering next steps. Military experts cautioned that the consequences of such action are unpredictable. The former head of the British army, Richard Dannatt, said it was crucial to proceed cautiously “so we don’t get into the kind of situation that we got into in Iraq by not having a Plan B for the morning after.” But the Western powers faced pressure to act urgently after weeks spent deliberation over what to do about Gadhafi as his regime gained momentum. Gadhafi, calling in to Libyan television on Thursday, said his forces would “rescue” the people of Benghazi, the eastern Mediterranean port city that has become the de-facto rebel capital and staging ground. For those who resist, Gadhafi said, there would be “no mercy or compassion.” “This is your happy day, we will destroy your enemies,” he said, warning the people of Benghazi not to stand alongside the opposition. “Prepare for this moment to get rid of the traitors. Tomorrow we will show the world, to see if the city is one of traitors or heroes.” Gadhafi also pledged to respond harshly to U.N.-sponsored attacks in an interview with Portuguese television broadcast just before the vote. “If the world is crazy,” he said, “we will be crazy, too.” That should end any doubt you might have as to whether or not this dude is a nutjob. Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim struck a more conciliatory tone, offering to negotiate a cease-fire with the rebels. He welcomed the Security Council’s concern for the people of Libya but called on the world not to allow them to receive weapons. “If any countries do that, they will be inviting Libyans to kill each other,” he said. The civil unrest in Libya started a little over a month ago. And the death toll is somewhere between 150 or over 1,000 people, depending on whether you ask Gadhafi or the rebels. Source

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US/UN Military Action In Libya Could Start As Early As Sunday

US/UN Military Action In Libya Could Start As Early As Sunday

Now that Moammar Gadhafi has closed off the airspace around Libya and threatened to hit the people with a “final assault,” the U.N. has voted to take “all necessary means” to protect the people of Libya. The U.N. Security Council resolution was approved late Thursday with the backing of the United States, France and Britain, hours after Gadhafi vowed to launch a final assault and crush the nearly 5-week-old rebellion against him. President Barack Obama telephoned the leaders of Britain and France after the vote, the White House said. U.S. officials speaking after a closed-door briefing in Congress said the attempt to ground Gadhafi’s air force could begin by Sunday or Monday with the use of jet fighters, bombers and surveillance aircraft. The British Cabinet held an emergency meeting as British planes were expected to take part in the international military action. NATO envoys in Brussels also were considering next steps. Military experts cautioned that the consequences of such action are unpredictable. The former head of the British army, Richard Dannatt, said it was crucial to proceed cautiously “so we don’t get into the kind of situation that we got into in Iraq by not having a Plan B for the morning after.” But the Western powers faced pressure to act urgently after weeks spent deliberation over what to do about Gadhafi as his regime gained momentum. Gadhafi, calling in to Libyan television on Thursday, said his forces would “rescue” the people of Benghazi, the eastern Mediterranean port city that has become the de-facto rebel capital and staging ground. For those who resist, Gadhafi said, there would be “no mercy or compassion.” “This is your happy day, we will destroy your enemies,” he said, warning the people of Benghazi not to stand alongside the opposition. “Prepare for this moment to get rid of the traitors. Tomorrow we will show the world, to see if the city is one of traitors or heroes.” Gadhafi also pledged to respond harshly to U.N.-sponsored attacks in an interview with Portuguese television broadcast just before the vote. “If the world is crazy,” he said, “we will be crazy, too.” That should end any doubt you might have as to whether or not this dude is a nutjob. Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim struck a more conciliatory tone, offering to negotiate a cease-fire with the rebels. He welcomed the Security Council’s concern for the people of Libya but called on the world not to allow them to receive weapons. “If any countries do that, they will be inviting Libyans to kill each other,” he said. The civil unrest in Libya started a little over a month ago. And the death toll is somewhere between 150 or over 1,000 people, depending on whether you ask Gadhafi or the rebels. Source

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US/UN Military Action In Libya Could Start As Early As Sunday

Beyonce Donated Gadhafi Money To Haiti Relief Last Year

Music industry urges other stars who played for Libyan dictator’s family to donate their earnings. By Gil Kaufman Beyonce Photo: Al Pereira/ WireImage Just days after singer Nelly Furtado announced that she planned to donate to charity money she received for playing a concert for the family of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, a spokesperson for Beyonc

Beyonce Donated Gadhafi Money To Haiti Relief Last Year

Music industry urges other stars who played for Libyan dictator’s family to donate their earnings. By Gil Kaufman Beyonce Photo: Al Pereira/ WireImage Just days after singer Nelly Furtado announced that she planned to donate to charity money she received for playing a concert for the family of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, a spokesperson for Beyonc

Nelly Furtado To Donate $1 Million Received From Gadhafi

Singer is among several stars who performed for Libyan dictator’s family in recent years. By Gil Kaufman Nelly Furtado Photo: Getty Images Things are falling apart in many ways for longtime Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi. With his countrymen in uproar and demanding that he step down after more than 40 years in power as part of the freedom wave rushing through the Middle East, the dictator is also getting push back from one of the pop stars who’ve performed for his family over the years. According to her official Twitter feed Canadian pop star Nelly Furtado confirmed on Monday that she once did a show for the dictator’s family and now plans to donate the money to charity. “In 2007, I received 1million$ from the Gadhafi clan to perform a 45 min. show for guests at a hotel in Italy,” she wrote on Monday. “I am going to donate the $.” Furtado isn’t the only artist to perform for a member of the dictator’s family. According to cables obtained by WikiLeaks and pointed out by The New York Times this week, Usher and Beyonc