Qadafi may have fled to Venezuela (unconfirmed but credible British sources)

[visionary]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#0521: Saadoun, a resident of Misrata, tells the BBC that there has been a daily pattern to the attacks by government forces. "The day starts with heavy shelling, and artillery fire through the city centre, and the residential areas," he says. "The tanks will then pave the way for snipers to climb on the top of tall buildings in the city centre, and provide a good cover for the artillery, and for the tanks to enter, or to try to enter into the city centre."

An article about the massacre in Zawiyah

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Article/201103115958004

We saw civilians battling for their lives and we saw far too many of them dying. We saw the regime's soldiers firing on ambulances (including one we were travelling in).

We saw the colonel's men shelling residential apartments and firing so close to the main hospital that the windows rattled and the nurses were barricading the windows. We saw wounded children and women who had been shot in the head.

We were inside the town as Gaddafi's military attempted to strangle it to death, encircling it with tanks and other military vehicles and cutting off the internet, the mobile phone network and eventually power and water supplies.

The British Ministry of Defence's strategic communications officer Major-General John Lorimer has used an aerial photograph of the town's mosque, in Martyrs Square where most of the battle took place, to demonstrate how the landscape of this town changed.

One photograph showed the town with its mosque intact, the other with the mosque destroyed, its dome collapsed.

"This shows just what Gaddafi is capable of," said Major-General Lorimer. Not even a sacred holy place was considered off-limits to Col Gaddafi's men.

[visionary]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#1010: Gen David Petareus, who's commanding US and Nato forces in Afghanistan, there was a discussion over whether "intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets" in use there would be needed in Libya, Reuters reports. "But in the end there have been no assets taken from the effort in Afghanistan and I don't foresee that happening at this point in time," he says.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-23

11:19am NATO warships - commanded from Naples, Italy, will begin patrolling Libya's coast to enforce the UN arms embargo later today.

The two flotilla will initially comprise two frigates, six minesweepers and a supply ship, a NATO official - unidentified under standing rules - told the Associated Press news agency.

12:18pm Al Jazeera's James Bays, reporting from Benghazi, says two developments have happened there. Firstly, there was a large death toll in Misurata overnight, with 14 killed and 23 injured - according to anti-Gaddafi fighters. He says they told him that:

Gaddafi's forces now taken over hospital in the town, and have positioned snipers on the roof and tanks outside. The rebels are calling for a hospital ship to be sent in, as they still control the port, and say that would save many lives, as they now have nowhere to take their injured.

More civilian deaths have been reported in Ajdabiya and elsewhere, and they calling on international powers to interpret the UN resolution more widely to support them.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#0809: The BBC's Ben Brown in Benghazi says there's no shortage of enthusiastic rebel volunteers heading to the front as they try to push towards Ajdabiya. But he says the rebels have made painfully slow progress - they are poorly equipped and lack a command structure, and their goal of getting to Tripoli seems like a distant dream.

#0818: The fighting on the approach to Ajdabiya is centred around Zuwaytina, about 25km away. The BBC's Ian Pannell reports that the town has been almost sealed off and is still being shelled by Col Gaddafi's forces. But he points out that it's hard for international forces to single out pro-Gaddafi forces there or in the western city of Misrata without risking collateral damage.

#1040: Coalition aircraft have launched two strikes against pro-Gaddafi forces in Misrata, Reuters reports.

#1054: More on the strikes in Misrata reported by Reuters: "The allied planes bombed twice so far. At 1245 (2245 GMT) this morning and then again less than two hours ago," a resident tells the agency. "They (pro-Gaddafi forces) haven't fired a single artillery (round) since the air strike."

---------- Post added March-23rd-2011 at 07:22 AM ----------

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#1113: Kim Sengupta of Britain's Independent newspaper recently travelled to Ajdabiya on the the Libyan front line. "Ajdabiya has a population of about 140,000, it seems about three-quarters of them have gone," he told the BBC World Service. "All the shops are shut, they have run out of most of their food, there is no water and there is no power. So it is basically a city under siege." He said pro-Gaddafi forces control the outside perimeter of the city. "No-one really is in control inside, you've got Shabab [Libyan Youth Movement] rebel fighters' checkpoints in various places, but they are not permanent ones."

#1116: The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says there is "grave concern" for civilians in the areas of heavy fighting. It says medical needs are on the rise and that in addition to the 335,600 people who have fled Libya in recent weeks, there are reports that some 80,000 people have been displaced within the country.

#1119: Ocha quotes rebel forces in Misrata as saying the situation there is "critical", with no fuel, water or electricity.

[visionary]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12831690

International forces have launched new air strikes near Libya's rebel-held western city of Misrata, witnesses say.

Forces loyal to Col Muammar Gaddafi initially pulled back, but Misrata residents say snipers have continued to target people from rooftops.

Col Gaddafi's forces also resumed their pounding of Zintan, near the Tunisian border, according to reports.

The fighting comes as Western leaders debate who leads the intervention, with the US keen to hand over to Nato.

A Misrata resident told Reuters by telephone: "This morning, air strikes twice hit the airbase where Gaddafi's brigades are based.

"Two people were killed by snipers an hour ago in the centre of the town. Their bodies are now at the hospital, which I visited a while ago. Shooting is still going on there now."

A doctor in the city also told the BBC that snipers were continuing to shoot at civilians, and confirmed at least one person had been killed.

Witnesses said tanks pulled back from their positions, from where they have been spearheading a siege of the city for days

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

1154: Zintan resident, quoted by Reuters: "Gaddafi's brigades started bombardment from the northern area half an hour ago... The town is completely surrounded... They are getting reinforcements. Troops backed with tanks and vehicles are coming. We appeal to the allied forces to come and protect civilians."

1212: British Prime Minister David Cameron says Kuwait and Jordan will make a logistical contribution to the Libyan effort. He says there's great concern about what's happening in Misrata.

1235: Turkey, which has voiced opposition to Nato taking a commanding role in the Libya mission, has offered a submarine and warships to help enforce the arms embargo off the North African country, according to a Nato general cited by AFP.

1245: It seems that from news on contributions or pledges of contributions from Turkey, Kuwait and Jordan that diplomatic efforts to broaden the coalition and "tone down" the US role may have made some headway.

1319: There are also reports of fighting in Ajdabiya near the eastern front, where AFP says residents are fleeing, describing shelling, gunfire and houses set on fire

1324: A group of rebel fighters positioned about 9km from the entrance of Ajdabiya said there were 11 tanks stationed at the town's east gate, AFP reports. "When we try to advance they shoot at us with heavy weapons -- tanks and 14.5 calibre machine guns," they quote one fighter as saying. "All we have are Kalashnikovs."

1329: A doctor in Misrata has told the BBC World Service that there are no pro-Gaddafi tanks in the city today, "because all the tanks have either escaped or been destroyed by the allied forces". But he says the hospital where he works is still surrounded by snipers loyal to Col Gaddafi. "They are shooting anybody going in or coming out of the hospital. Until now we have four civilian dead."

1334: The Misrata doctor who spoke to the BBC World Service said he was worried that ambulance wokers and doctors were also at risk from snipers. "Our hospital is overcrowded," he added. "We are treating people on the floor. We have stopped counting injured people, we just count the dead. We are dealing something you cannot believe." The doctor said he was in favour of air strikes by the international coalition, "because those [pro-Gaddafi] troops, when they hear the aircraft in the sky, they escape".

1345: Another eyewitness in Misrata (see previous entry) has given this account to the BBC. "In the early morning of this day, there were several attempts to enter Misrata from different sides. This time, Gaddafi's troops and mercernaries are following tactics. They're using ordinary civilian cars... and they're using light weapons like AK-47s. Yesterday, me and other eyewitnesses heard the sound of aircraft flying in the sky of Misrata. Right afterwards, we saw an uprising flame of strong explosions - at least 10. These explosions were in the south-west of the city, probably in the Seket area where is the stronghold of Gaddafi troops, but so far no one has managed to confirm the results of these air strikes."

1357: A Libyan government press trip to inspect some of the damage from bombing raids seems to have hit a snag. CNN correspondent Nic Robertson, in Tripoli, tweets: "Govt officials taking journalists into east Tripoli are lost and can't find the so-called damaged house. Just driving around."

1124: Representatives of the rebel's interim council have told a meeting of reporters, intellectuals and sympathisers in Paris that the hoped-for post-Gaddafi government will be "secular and democratic". Mansour Saif Al-Nasr, a representative of the Benghazi-based council, said Libyans "are a moderate people, and the state will not be led by clerics".

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-23#

12:41pm International coalition warplanes just conducted an air strike against Gaddafi forces stationed at the eastern entrance of Ajdabiya, reports Al Jazeera Arabic.

This is from a couple of hours ago, but it might be after the report of tanks firing on people from the eastern gate. Meaning...perhaps those tanks are no longer there.

---------- Post added March-23rd-2011 at 10:58 AM ----------

https://twitter.com/NicRobertsonCNN

Govt officials abort trip to find "damaged" civilian house, returned us to the hotel. 36 minutes ago via web

http://www.libyafeb17.com/2011/03/march-23-updates/

16:27 The Guardian has been told that text messages are being sent to people in Tripoli, claiming to be from rebels in Benghazi and the east, but actually sent by Gaddafi’s regime.

A source in Libya said the texts say the country will be split in two. The texts also threaten that rebels from Benghazi are heading to the west of the country to rape and pillage in Tripoli, with the help of western powers.

Separately, our source claims that state television in Tripoli is showing pictures of dead people which the reports say were killed in the coalition air strikes – however some of the dead have been recognised by viewers as relatives who disappeared during Gaddafi’s crackdown on Tripoli.

The Guardian is unable to confirm the source’s account at this moment in time.

[visionary]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

1502: The Libyan air force "no longer exists as a fighting force", the commander of Royal Air Force operation has said. Air Vice Marshal Greg Bagwell, on a visit to RAF airmen based at Gioia del Colle in southern Italy, said that the allies could now operate "with near impunity" over the skies of Libya. He went on: 'We have the Libyan ground forces under constant observation and we attack them whenever they threaten civilians or attack population centres."

1532: Back now to Misrata, which has seen some of the heaviest fighting in recent days. The town is cut off, but a spokesman for the rebels, Mohamed, has told the BBC: "Misrata was in a desperate state yesterday, we almost lost all hope, but the strikes came at a good time with good intensity and frequency. They even managed to take out some convoys inside the city which was very impressive. Gaddafi's forces have been hiding in a hospital...

I can tell you that there've been zero casualties from international strikes... There are snipers on top of buildings; Gaddafi's forces are still stationed on the main street - Tripoli street - but there's no random shelling anymore... I've been able to go out, I've seen bakeries and groceries open for the first time in many days. The strikes made such a difference - Gaddafi's forces are scared of them. I want to express our gratitude and appreciation for these actions, we will never ever forget!"

:)

1542: If, as the RAF says, Libya's air force no longer exists as a fighting force (see 1502 entry), where does the no-fly zone operation go from here? An American naval commander at the Gioia del Colle base in southern Italy says air strikes will now target any of Col Gaddafi's ground forces still attacking opposition-held areas. Rear Admiral Margaret Klein said the bombing of Libyan tanks and artillery was authorised by the UN resolution approving action to protect civilians.

1547: On a lighter note, conditions appear to have eased in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi. Telegraph correspondent Rob Crilly tweets: "Pleased to announced that hotel room has been cleaned for first time since I've been here... things getting back to 'normal' in #benghazi"

1548: Lest any of the Western allies get carried away by claims of success against Col Gaddafi's forces, defence analayst Tim Ripley has this warning: "We're a way off from the scenario of raising a Lawrence of Arabia army to drive across the desert and take Tripoli," he tells Reuters.

1559: As well as Misrata, there are also reports of fighting in Zintan. Abdul Rahman in Zintan has told the BBC's Arabic service: "We have been subjected to intermittent heavy shelling all day from the north of the city where Gaddafi positioned his troops. We are deperately waiting for help from the allied forces to save us. What Gaddafi is saying about Al Qaeda operatives in the city is all lies. Gaddafi is the biggest threat to Libya."

---------- Post added March-23rd-2011 at 12:37 PM ----------

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-23#

6:00pm James Bays, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Benghazi, said there is a "thank you" rally taking place there.

People have gathered to thank Britain, France, the UN, and Qatar - the reason for it is to thank international nations that have taken part in this air campaign.

If you asked those people they'd say they'd like more air strikes until the members of their family, who are opposition fighters, make their way to Tripoli.

Every family has someone who has gone towards the front line."

[visionary]

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-23

7:38pm Reuters: Norway may ground its six F-16 fighter jets due to take part in US-led sorties over Libya if it deems their missions too dangerous for civilians in the North African state, the defence minister said.

8:36pm Reuters: NATO envoys fail to agree on taking over command of Libya operations, says NATO diplomat.

8:41pm AP: Canada carried out its first attacks in the UN-sponsored campaign to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya, dropping four laser-guided bombs on an ammunition depot.

9:23pm Reuters: Doctor in Misurata saying government tanks are closing in on the hospital and shelling the area.

9:50pm Reuters: As night fell in the Libyan capital of Tripoli, locals said they heard eight explosions in the east of the city and saw smoke rising into the night sky.

11:25pm Reuters quotes a doctor in the opposition-held city of Misurata as saying government forces are closing in on the hospital. "Government tanks are closing in on Misurata hospital and shelling the area," the doctor told the news agency before the line was cut off.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#0022: To recap the latest events, air strikes by coalition forces continue for a fifth night, with explosions reported in the capital, Tripoli. Meanwhile, rebels and residents say that government tanks have shelled the hospital in the rebel-held western city of Misrata, having rolled back in under cover of darkness.

#0035: Anderson Cooper from CNN tweets: "Intvd man in misrata #libya. They need ammo, better weapons, and medicine, but says air strikes are helping."

[visionary]

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-24

2:37am Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim has denied allegations that the government has cut off water and electricity supplies to Misurata.

"We heard those rumours that the government has intentionally cut off supplies," said . "It's just a technical problem because of damage and looting."

Misurata residents say the city is under attack by government forces who have severed their basic supplies and effectively besieged the last major opposition holdout in western Libya.

Omar al-Mislati, planning manager for the state water company, said up to 70,000 out of 300,000 people in Misurata had no access to water due a technical problem and damage caused by some of the fighting.

What a coincidence that this seems to happen in every city that's besieged before the fighting starts.

2:46am This video from Misurata filmed on Wednesday appears to show show gunfire, sniper fire and a line of tanks in the city.

d2mw-JseOIs

I can't really see the tanks.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-24

3:15am Reuters quotes residents saying a loud explosion has been heard in Tripoli.

"We heard another explosion just now. We see smoke rising. There are people on rooftops. It seems to be in a military area near the engineering college [in the Tajoura area]," one resident said.

http://twitter.com/acarvin

Second video from Misurata childrens hospital. Shows damage from an attack; no one there. But is that a NICU? http://on.fb.me/hntkzQ #libya 7 minutes ago via TweetDeck

http://twitter.com/hababbi

@acarvin yes andy it is filled with incubaters for newborns i am a nurse so you can trust me on this one. 8 minutes ago via web in reply to acarvin

Third video of the same set: Libyans praying over the mutilated body of a young boy. Take my word for it - horrible. http://on.fb.me/gLll3z 5 minutes ago via TweetDeck

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#0134: ABC radio in Australia tweets: "A man from #Misurata says the town is suffering&running out of supplies. http://audioboo.fm/boos/311062-a-man-from-misurata-says-the-town-is-suffering-running-out-of-supplies?utm_campaign=detailpage&utm_content=retweet&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

He said they can last a few more days on the food, but the hospital is in horrible condition and they have just about no medical supplies at all.

[visionary]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#0426: Libyan officials took journalists to a hospital in Tripoli early on Thursday to see what they said were the charred bodies of 18 military personnel and civilians killed by air and missile strikes, the Reuters news agency reports.

#0443: There have been more explosions and anti-aircraft gunfire in Tripoli, the AFP news agency reports.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-24

6:29am Libyan regime officials took journalists on a trip yesterday to the town of Bani Walid, around 150km southeast of Tripoli, to demonstrate support for Gaddafi in the area, according to the AP. The Warfalla tribe, Libya's largest, is strong in Bani Walid.

Some residents told reporters they had recently received weapons from the regime, which has also distributed money to the Warfalla, according to western intelligence sources, the AP said.

Hmmm, I thought Bani Wallid revolted a few weeks ago.

I also thought Warfalla had some long standing grudges against Gaddafi. Maybe those are just the ones in Benghazi.

In any case I'm sure there's more to this.

6:36am One of our team in the east reports that Ajdabiya Hospital is under "regular attack" these days and that most of the doctors have left.

6:48am This video posted on YouTube last night by user zintan2011 purports to be images of a destroyed regime tank near the town of Zintan, which has been the scene of back-and-forth fighting in recent days:

_Qt5u6oX-4o

[visionary]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#0537: Nicholas Kristof writes in the New York Times: "Doubts are reverberating across America about the military intervention in Libya. Those questions are legitimate, and the uncertainties are huge. But let's not forget that a humanitarian catastrophe has been averted for now and that this intervention looks much less like the 2003 invasion of Iraq than the successful 1991 gulf war to rescue Kuwait from Iraqi military occupation."

#0551: Nancy Soderberg, a former US ambassador to the United Nations, tells the BBC World Service that the international coalition "is not falling apart, but it needs to be strengthened". "This is a rapidly changing situation. It was quite impressive that the European powers and the United States secured UN Security Council resolution for really the first purely humanitarian military operation in our history.

The disagreements that existed before and after that vote are now showing themselves. It doesn't mean it will fall apart, but it is very much a fluid situation and dependant very much on how difficult it gets on the ground in Libya. We don't know exactly who the rebels, who the targets are, who the civilians are. It's really quite a complex situation."

#0614: Nato member states will meet again in Brussels later on Thursday, after a third day of negotiations failed to agree on who will direct the military operation in Libya when the US relinquishes control. France is still resisting pressure to place Nato in full command.

David Schenker, who directs the programme on Arab politics at the Washington Institute, has told the BBC: "It's an odd dynamic. You have the French trying to set up an unprecedented war council, including the input of the Arab countries. I think that you will hear a lot of complaints from the US Congress about chain of command, about whether this is Nato, whether we should be part of this."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110324/ap_on_re_af/af_libya

A doctor in Misrata said Gadhafi's tanks fled after the airstrikes, giving a much-needed reprieve to the besieged coastal city, which is inaccessible to human rights monitors or journalists. The airstrikes struck the aviation academy and a vacant lot outside the central hospital, the doctor said.

"Today, for the first time in a week, the bakeries opened their doors," the doctor said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals if Gadhafi's forces take Libya's third-largest city, 125 miles (200 kilometers) southeast of Tripoli.

Some attacks by pro-Gadhafi forces continued in Misrata, where the doctor and rebel leaders said pro-Gadhafi snipers were firing on civilians from rooftops. Abdel-Hafidh Ghoga, a spokesman for the opposition forces, said 16 people were killed today, including five children.

In Zintan, a city of 100,000 about 75 miles (120 kilometers) south of Tripoli, a resident said Gadhafi's forces were shelling from the foot of a nearby mountain, but rebels forced their retreat from all but one side of the city. After five days of fighting, Ali al-Azhari said, rebel fighters captured or destroyed several tanks and seized trucks loaded with 1,200 Grad missiles and fuel tanks. They captured five Gadhafi troops.

Al-Azhari, who spoke to The Associated Press by phone from the city, said one officer told rebels he was ordered "to turn Zintan into a desert to be smashed and flattened." Resentment against Gadhafi runs high in Zintan because it was the hometown of many of the detained army officers who took part in a failed coup in 1993.

Ghoga said 16 people died Tuesday and Wednesday in Zintan, which has no electricity or landlines.

That didn't mention the tanks coming back to Misrata later.

Maybe it was written before that?

The update time seems recent though.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/23/libya-allied-air-strikes-misrata

Nearly 12 hours of allied air strikes have broken the Libyan regime's five-day bloody assault on the key rebel-held town of Misrata.

Residents said the aerial bombardment destroyed tanks and artillery and sent many of Muammar Gaddafi's forces fleeing from Misrata, ending a siege and attack by the regime that cost nearly 100 lives from random shelling, snipers and bitter street fighting.

Mohammed Ali, an IT engineer at Misrata's main hospital, said that waves of air strikes began shortly after midnight on Wednesday.

"They bombed a lot of sites of the Gaddafi army. There is a former hospital where his tanks were based. All the tanks and the hospital were destroyed. A column of tanks was destroyed on the edge of the city," he said. "After that there was no shelling. We are very relieved. We are very grateful. We want to thank the world. The Gaddafi forces are scattered around. All that is left is the snipers and our fighters can take care of them."

Ali said people in Misrata wanted the coalition to keep up the air strikes until all Gaddafi's forces were driven away from the town to ensure that those who were able to escape with armoured vehicles and guns did not return.

A doctor in the town, who did not want to be named, said snipers were continuing to sow fear by targeting not only rebels but civilians.

"The sniper problem is a big one. A lot of people are still afraid to leave their homes," he said.

The apparent breaking of the siege will be a blow to the Libyan ruler's attempts to reassert control over the entire west of the country.

It may also serve as a further deterrent, along with the destruction of Gaddafi's tanks, artillery and soldiers that were attacking Benghazi, to those still fighting for the dictator.

I can't tell if this is new or old.

I thought it was new because of all the stuff they said was bombed, but maybe it's old if it took place on midnight Wednesday and went on for 12 hours.

If it's old, then I assume that the tanks that came back Wednesday night haven't been destroyed yet?

There wasn't much mention of Zintan either.

I guess I might as well wait to see what's going on in Misrata after I get some sleep.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#0609: The Guardian's Chris McGreal tweets: "Mohammed Ali, IT engineer at Misrata hospital, tells me Gaddafi assault broken by 12 hours allied air strikes. #Libya."

#0618: LibyaAlHurra tweets: "Medeor first aid ship arrived yesterday in Misrata under military protection. Hospitals had been short of basics including anaesthetics... Malta&US provided security support... 'The joy over the relief supplies so far only in the hospital was huge,' said Dr Nagi Idris founder of 'Global Relief for Libya'... Medeor.org is responding to urgent requests for additional relief consignments, which are packed and should arrive by the end of the week."

Even more confusing.

I haven't heard anything anywhere else about this or the results of it so far.

It would be nice if this were true though.

[visionary]

Seems like the news out of Misrata is actually getting worse and worse...

#0853: The BBC's Ben Brown in Benghazi says there are reports from the besieged rebel-held city of Misrata in the west that Gaddafi bombardment has resumed. Residents say they've run out of medical supplies, hospital overflowing with casualties, no food and people drinking rainwater. But Gaddafi deputy foreign minister says only limited skirmishing in Misrata today.

0932: A Misrata resident, Sadoon, has told the BBC's World Today programme: "Misrata yesterday saw the deliberate targeting of the main hospital, which led to the death of three civilians. They were subjected to heavy shelling by pro-Gaddafi tanks... and the fire of pro-Gaddafi snipers on top of high buildings.

#0953: Aid group Refugees International has raised concern about 1,300 people from Chad it says are stuck at the Libyan border. Spokeswoman Dara McLeod told the BBC the refugees were in a terrible condition as they had no shelter and the nights were very cold. She said the Chadian government had so far failed to organise a way for them to get home.

#1008: Residents of Misrata tell Reuters that coalition air strikes last night hit pro-Gaddafi tanks on the outskirts, but not those which were inside the city.

#1020: Ms McLeod said when she visited Tobruk, there was clear appreciation for the international action. "Even just sitting in restaurants and cafes, people would come up and thank us. And, to a person, everyone said 'Without this coalition we would not be alive.' There is a sense, in Tobruk at least, in the east, that the coalition is the only reason why they are keeping Gaddafi's forces at bay."

#1047: Residents of Misrata have told Reuters the city is facing a "humanitarian crisis" after the port was reportedly seized by pro-Gaddafi troops. "There are more than 6,000 Egyptian workers, some with their families, plus some African workers, who are now in the port. They went there waiting for a ship to move them but nobody is coming," said one man.

Doesn't seem like they can last much longer.

What happened to that aid ship that said it was there yesterday?

#1048: The witness said the regime had sent two warships and several boats to the port. "They have besieged us from from the sea," he said. "They haven't attacked but if they do, the thousands of workers will be the first victims."

What is the Coalition Navy doing?

#1050: Our correspondents in Tripoli say it is very hard to get information from Misrata, some 200 km (130 miles) away from the capital. The authorities have prevented journalists from travelling there and communications are poor.

1122: Maya in Manchester, UK, writes: "My husband is from Zawiya and we have received reports that all able-bodied men are being arrested as Gaddafi's troops go door-to-door. We do not know if his family have food but considering that the city has been closed off for weeks I can't imagine what they would have left to eat. There are also reports of women being raped and mobile communication is non-existent.

The hospital has also been taken over by the army. We want to raise awareness of just how bad it is inside Libya. Imagine what the terminally ill, the women in labour and those who need life-saving treatement are doing! Personally, if the UN agreement allows for ground troops to enter without the risk of occupancy then I ask the UN to please put this into effect immediately."

Hmmm.

#1155: Mohamed, at a clinic in Misrata, has just told the BBC: "We are without running water, electricity and communications for the tenth day now. My heart is broken by the carnage I have seen. Four boys died in my neighbourhood and I had to go to the funerals. I feel for them. But I feel a sense of freedom that I have never felt in Libya."

#1219: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has been discussing the conflict with his Egyptian counterpart, Field Marshall Hussein Tantawi. Mr Gates's press secretary, Geoff Morrell, said the Egyptian authorities had not objected to the coalition strikes in Libya but were concerned for the well-being of their citizens in the country. "Not in the context of our operations, but in the context of potential reprisals from Gaddafi," said Mr Morrell.

#1227: The International Labour Organization (ILO) says there are still an estimated 800,000 foreign workers in Libya, AFP reports.

#1243: Mr Hague says there has been "universal condemnation of what the Libyan regime is doing", from the UN, Arab League, African Union and EU. "The regime's action is strengthening our resolve to continue our current operations and our support for the work of the International Criminal Court. Our action is saving lives and is protecting hundreds of thousands of civilians in Benghazi and Misrata from the fate that otherwise awaited them".

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-24

10:43am Tunisia has joined the United States and European Union in freezing Libyan assets, an anonymous Tunisian government source told Reuters today. Tunisia froze assets belong to Gaddafi and five of his family members.

10:39am French foreign minister Alain Juppe said at a press conference today that he hopes the international military intervention in Libya serves as a warning to governments in Syria, Saudi Arabi and elsewhere.

He also said he believes the campaign against Gaddafi may take days or weeks, but not months.

---------- Post added March-24th-2011 at 09:21 AM ----------

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-24

1:52pm The US Naval Institute has released his handy map showing the location and nationality of the international forces brought to bear against Gaddafi:

---------- Post added March-24th-2011 at 09:26 AM ----------

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#1321: The BBC's John Simpson in Tripoli says anxiety among pro-Gaddafi officials that regime change might be imminent is beginning to subside. He says there's a growing confidence that no matter what happens Col Gaddafi and his system will continue to run that part of the country, though not many think it's likely he can recapture the east.

[visionary]

http://twitter.com/ksnavarra

Reports of #France Rafale jets have shot down a #Libyan Soko-G2 warplane over #Misurata #NFZ 13 minutes ago via TweetDeck

News from Zwara and Zawiya

http://twitter.com/Tribulusterr

MUST READ(in French tho) http://bit.ly/eZZXtg - #Zwara still being shelled by #Gaddafi army;still resistance in #Zawiya http://bit.ly/eZZXtg 43 minutes ago via web

refugees fr #Zwara, town 40 km fr Tunisian border, reported heavy shelling f last 2 days.".. were terrified...army tanks shelled f > 24 hrs 31 minutes ago via web

#Zwara "Many neighborhoods ... demolished altogether. My girls were shaking, they were paralyzed in bed. We cld not eat f 2 days." #Libya 29 minutes ago via web

#Zwara "When guns fell silent,took my 3 daughters & left town. I had to go through c.100 checkpts. Thank God, I arrived w my children alive" 21 minutes ago via web

#Zwara ". I know...were many dead, my neighbour lost his entire family, at least a dozen people..horrible "- Egyptian w baby & 2 toddlers 20 minutes ago via web

#Zwara "similar reports made by Malian who jst crossed border."city is like a battlefield. Many houses razed by tanks. hid in cellar" #Libya 18 minutes ago via web

#Zwara "as he talked,distant heavy explosions cld be heard."You see, they resumed the shelling,luckily I'm gone"" Libya http://bit.ly/eZZXtg 16 minutes ago via web

#Zawiya "#Gaddafi forces seem to control the city, but in some areas of city, shooting between both sides are everyday occurrences" #Libya 14 minutes ago via web

#Zawiya "We can no longer live in this tension.Every night we sleep w sound of explosions & bangs. armed robberies ..common..no safe place" 12 minutes ago via web

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-24

3:49pm Six Dutch F-16’s are about to depart from the Netherlands to the Italian island of Sardinia, from where they will be part of the international alliance enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya. The Dutch ministry of defence stresses that the jets will not be used for attack purposes.

That's helpful.

No idea when this is from:

http://twitter.com/ChangeInLibya

Video showing people in Zintan greeting neighbours from the "ryayna" tribe who came to help http://goo.gl/plEJ4 #libya is UNITED #feb17 17 minutes ago via web

[visionary]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#1427: The BBC's World Have Your Say programme tweets: "We've just spoken to a rebel in Misrata. Gun fire clearly heard in the background. He says they're fighting 11 tanks in the city #Libya."

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-24

4:12pm Jordan says its assistance to the international coalition action against the Libyan regime will be solely humanitarian.

Information Minister Taher Adwan told AFP news agency:

We will provide ambulances or humanitarian aid. We will not take part in actions on the ground in Libya

Adwan comment comes a day after British prime minister David Cameron said Kuwait and Amman will provide "logistic contributions".

4:57pm Detained government soldiers and suspected mercenaries are kept in a former military prison near Benghazi, now taken over by rebels. Some of the men admit to serving with Gaddafi's forces, but say they had no other choice, but to fire at rebels and civilians during battles for cities in the east of the country:

Abul Majid Mohammed, who served in the Al Fadila Battalion of the army, told Reuters news agency:

If anybody refused to open fire they would kill them, or burn them alive and on our eyes they killed soldiers who refused to fight.

http://twitter.com/ksnavarra

BREAKING: #Turkey parliament approves government decision to participate in #NATO naval operation off #Libya 2 minutes ago via TweetDeck

http://twitter.com/ChangeInLibya

Message from Tripoli to coalition: Please bomb Gaddafi's ammunition and barracks in the city tonight & we'll take care of the rest tomorrow. 20 minutes ago via web Retweeted by LibyaNewMedia and 54 others

@ArmchairArab Where do I start? airport road, tajoura, girgarish.. etc etc 12 minutes ago via web in reply to ArmchairArab Retweeted by LibyaNewMedia

http://twitter.com/blakehounshell

Misrata: Supplies of everything are short, and apparently the drinking water has been contaminated with sewage. 27 minutes ago via Twitter for Mac

Misrata: There are snipers posted outside the clinic that's been serving as an ER; they urgently need water and alternative facilities. 26 minutes ago via Twitter for Mac

---------- Post added March-24th-2011 at 12:32 PM ----------

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-24

5:56pm A French warplane fired an air-to-ground missile at a Libyan military plane and destroyed it just after it landed at Misrata air force base. A French armed forces spokesman said:

The French patrol carried out an air-to-ground strike with an AASM weapon just after the plane had landed at the Misrata airbase.

He added that the plane, belonging to Muammar Gaddafi's military, had breached the UN-imposed no-fly zone.

---------- Post added March-24th-2011 at 12:35 PM ----------

http://twitter.com/acarvin

"NATO is now in charge of the Arms Embargo off the coast of Libya. I've designated a top Italian Admiral to run it." -Adm James Stavridis. 5 minutes ago via TweetDeck

Reuters: "We will ensure the free flow of legitimate shipping which the people of Libya need," Vice Admiral Ri… (cont) http://deck.ly/~mRW32 5 minutes ago via TweetDeck

[visionary]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#1815: Turkey's foreign minister is being quoted as saying Nato will take command of the Libya operation, AP reports. More on this as we get it.

#1830: More on that statement from Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu: He has told TRT television that Turkey's demands had been met and Nato will take command of the Libya military operation. Nato needs the approval of all its members and Turkey had set conditions. So far there is no independent confirmation of the statement.

#1625: Rebels are in striking distance of the gates of Ajdabiya in their attempt to retake the strategic eastern town from government troops, AFP reports. One of the agency's journalists says hundreds of fighters are marching on the city, 160 kilometres (100 miles) south of Benghazi, Libya's second city and the rebels' stronghold.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-24

8:21pm At least 109 people have been killed in the rebel-held city of Misurata and more than 1,300 wounded in a week of attacks by forces loyal to Gaddafi, a doctor in the city told AFP news agency. The doctor working in Misurata's state hospital said on condition of anonymity:

Attacks by Gaddafi forces since last Friday have killed 109 people and wounded 1,300 others, 81 of whom are in serious condition.

On Thursday alone "four martyrs fell because of sniper fire," he added.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#1750: Reuters quotes the Libyan rebels as claiming a major success - killing 30 government snipers in Misrata. He also says that all Libyan government military vessels have abandoned the port.

#1838: A BBC contact in Misrata says the central hospital there has been turned into an army base by pro-Gaddafi troops. She says no civilians are there and all the surrounding houses have been evacuated. It is not possible for us to confirm the claims.

No specific mention in any of those reports of the tanks attacking from inside Misrata....

[visionary]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#1943: AFP reports anti-aircraft fire over Tripoli and at least three explosions shaking the Libyan capital.

#2008: A Pentagon spokesman, briefing reporters in Washington, says: "Let me be clear - when and where regime forces threaten the lives of civilians they will be attacked... Our message to the regime troops is simple - stop fighting."

2030: Dr Sergy in Ukraine writes: "I left Libya two weeks ago. But my colleagues are still in Misrata. There are more than 50 doctors and nurses. They are in hospital under attack. They need help, please help them!"

#2020: Asked whether the coalition is using so-called psychological warfare tactics, such as dropping propaganda leaflets to pro-Gaddafi forces, the Pentagon spokesman replies: "We're using every tool that we have in our toolbox."

http://twitter.com/acarvin

Pentagon official: US working to hand off control of Libya military mission by this weekend. -AP 20 minutes ago via TweetDeck

Pentagon official: All Libya no-fly zone patrols Thursday were flown by non-US aircraft. -AP #nfz #libya 19 minutes ago via TweetDeck

http://twitter.com/cnnbrk

Airstrikes carried out Thursday near Tripoli, Misrata and Ajdabiya, #Libya, a Pentagon spokesman said http://on.cnn.com/gRz2Wa 19 minutes ago via web

http://twitter.com/HMS_Cumberland

Pentagon: "Vigorously planning delivery of humanitarian assistance" 35 minutes ago via Twitter for Mac

Pentagon: "We are not attacking forces within a city as we could not meet our collateral damage concerns" 14 minutes ago via Twitter for Mac

Pentagon: "Putting pressure on Gaddafi forces outside city, supply lines, logistics" 15 minutes ago via Twitter for Mac

Libya Pentagon briefing: Qadhafi troops should "not use their tanks or personnel carriers as a mode of transport home" #AFRICOM 12 minutes ago via web

---------- Post added March-24th-2011 at 05:10 PM ----------

http://twitter.com/alihashem

ِAl Jazeera correspondent in Libya

REBEL SPOKESMAN: WESTERN COALITION HAS TOLD REBELS WILL SECURE SAFE PASSAGE FOR AID SHIPS FROM MALTA TO MISRATA #feb17 #libya about 3 hours ago via web

(This was already in all caps. lol)

FLASH: Coalition naval force seize oil carrier on its way to Zawya 50km from Tripoli and change its route to Tobruk #libya #feb17 21 minutes ago via web

[visionary]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#2204: Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says: "There will still be a coalition operation and a Nato operation" in Libya. He says officials are considering whether Nato will take on the broader operation, but that decision "has not been made yet".

#2209: The Nato chief said the organisation had agreed to enforce a no-fly zone in order to protect civilians. He said Nato's mandate did not go beyond that, though it could act in self-defence, Reuters reports.

#2225: So, going back to the comments by Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, it appears diplomats still have some work to do before any settlement is reached on how the mission in Libya is organised. They still have to decide whether Nato's role will be extended from running the no-fly zone to taking responsibility for any air strikes.

#2219: A US official has told AFP that the United Arab Emirates has contributed 12 warplanes to the military coalition over Libya.

http://feb17.info/general/live-libyan-unrest-march-24/

12:03AM: A video released by the Misrata Freedom Group used to prove that the Misrata port is now free of any Gaddafi forces. Summary below the video:

The speaker is giving today’s date, saying the port is NOT in the hands of Gaddafi’s troops as per some news sources and that supplies should start coming in since the port is in the hands of the good guys. He also says that they should come and transport the non libyans waiting in the port area to get out.

ZPKVAoZYogc

http://twitter.com/ChangeInLibya

Great stuff. I just confirmed that people in Tripoli can hear BOTH radio free Misurata and radio free Benghazi #libya #feb17 8 minutes ago via web

Whoa! Interesting report!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#2250: There are several tweets saying that some 75 armed rebels have arrived by boat in Misrata, from Benghazi.

[visionary]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#2311: AFP is reporting a statement from EU leaders saying they are "ready" to prevent oil and gas revenues from reaching Col Gaddafi's regime.

#2333: Mrs Clinton also confirmed that the United Arab Emirates had announced that they are joining the coalition. "We welcome this important step," she says. "It underscores the both the breadth of this international coalition and the depth of concern in the region for the plight of the Libyan people."

http://twitter.com/NicRobertsonCNN

Govt officials taking journalists to funerals for 16 people they claim were killed in coalition bombing raids, driving towards east Tripoli about 9 hours ago via web

Large crowd of several hundred at martyrs cemetery on seafront Tripoli, 13 coffins, sheikh says are “innocent victims” about 9 hours ago via web

While we were there, more coffins brought, over 30 in total. Sheikh spoke in English, clear message to coalition Libyans will fight back. about 1 hour ago via web

At least one coffin we saw was empty. Govt officials claimed some bodies were taken for burial in their hometowns. about 1 hour ago via web

At graveside, we saw some bodies removed from coffins and placed in ground; all appeared to be adult males. about 1 hour ago via web

In Tripoli, two attacks in early evening, anti aircraft fire, unclear where. about 1 hour ago via web

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/25/libya-rebels-yvonne-fletcher-murder

Libya rebels arrest man suspected of Yvonne Fletcher murder 27 years ago

Campaigners hope Omar Ahmed Sodani – who worked in London embassy at time of shooting – will face trial in UK

The man suspected of murdering PC Yvonne Fletcher outside the Libyan embassy in London in 1984 has been arrested by rebel forces in the country and is in custody in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi.

Campaigners welcomed the arrest and expressed the hope that Omar Ahmed Sodani would face trial in Britain.

Sodani, a prominent figure in Muammar Gaddafi's regime who acknowledges that he was working in the embassy at the time of the shooting, insisted he had not killed 25-year-old Fletcher.

Speaking in custody in Benghazi, he told Channel 4 News: "I was there but I wasn't at the scene when the shooting took place. I was in police custody before that. I had a quarrel with a police officer before the event, so I was detained and I was told while I was in the police station that a shooting took place and a police officer was shot."

Fletcher was helping to control a small demonstration outside the embassy in St James's Square on 17 April 1984 when shots were fired from the first floor of the building at the protestors. She was shot in the stomach and died in hospital.

Armed police surrounded the embassy in an 11-day siege. Gaddafi responded by sending forces to surround the British embassy in Tripoli. The sieges ended when staff in both embassies were allowed to leave. Britain broke off diplomatic relations with Libya. Libyan embassy staff, who were expelled from Britain, claimed diplomatic immunity which meant they could not be questioned by police. Nobody has faced justice for the shooting.

http://twitter.com/acarvin

Audio from a man in Misurata describing the day's events there:

#libya 6 minutes ago via TweetDeck

13eTI5RfJhQ

[visionary]

http://twitter.com/NicRobertsonCNN

In Tripoli, two attacks in early evening, anti aircraft fire, unclear where. about 3 hours ago via web

3 to be precise big bangs, one louder than others, followed by short burst anti aircraft gun fire - at about 3.40am local 12 minutes ago via web

Sources at Pentagon tell us Gadhafi loyalists search Tripoli morgues for bodies to present to journalists as civilian casualties 11 minutes ago via web

http://twitter.com/LibyaInMe

Dr. from Tripoli denies reports of civilian casualties due to airstrikes / Translated http://bit.ly/gQdHkw #libya #feb17 half a minute ago via web

I haven't heard or seen any news from Zintan today.

Somewhat worrying.

According to Arwa Damon on CNN, opposition fighters in Ajdabiya still can't break the Gaddafi hold over the Western and Northern gates. Heavy artillery and tanks are keeping them from making any ground towards the small force of pro-Gaddafi soldiers holding ground there.

I wonder why they don't just send tons of people on boats around to Ras Lanuf or Brega or Misrata (there are reports of some being sent to Misrata). (of course there are logistical and supply concerns, but I think it would be possible)

http://twitter.com/StateDept

Today, at least 18 doctors and nurses from an organization funded by @USAID arrived in #Benghazi: http://go.usa.gov/2Zu #Libya half a minute ago via web

[visionary]

Libya: On The Streets Of Benghazi

LShGmZPDEPI

Poor Ajdabiya, it looks like hell.

4:30am Our correspondent James Bays reports on the desperate conditions for people who have chosen to stay in Ajdabiya, a city which has been fought over for more than two weeks.

lgK8DISdmyw

[visionary]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#0854: The head of the African Union, Jean Ping, has told BBC's Hardtalk that Africa is still divided of the military action. He said four main points will guide the union's members. "First is an immediate ceasefire. Second that we should allow the humanitarians to go in the field. Three to protect the civilians. Four - which is probably the more important item - we recognise the legitimate aspiration of the Libyan people to democracy, to freedom, to justice, to peace. In that order."

#1026: Uganda has announced it is following several other countries and freezing Libyan assets worth some $375m (£232m). The assets are mainly linked to the telecommunications, hotel, banking and oil sectors.

#1156: The African Union has been holding talks in Addis Ababa. Union head Jean Ping has said they are "moving forward in a resolute political process aiming at facilitating dialogue between the Libyan parties on reforms to be launched to eliminate the root causes of the conflict ... that should end with the election of democratic institutions".

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/live-blog-libya-march-25

11:15am The African Union meeting on Libya in Addis Ababa has begun, according to the AFP news agency. In attendance are delegates from Libya, the European Union, the United Nations, the Arab League and Organisation of the Islamic Conference. No word yet on how high-level the attendees are, and it appears the United States is not represented.

11:40am The Daily Monitor, Uganda's largest independent newspaper, reports that the European Union authorised the transfer of 265,000 euros to the African Union two days before the two sides, along with the United Nations and other bodies, were scheduled to meet in Addis Ababa to discuss Libya. (hat tip to Alex Thurston of Sahel Blog for pointing this out.)

The African Union has strongly criticised the international military intervention in Libya, while the European Union has supported it. The funding was announced in an EU statement on Wednesday and was provided through the African Peace Facility Early Response Mechanism - a four-year-old project that's part of a 740 million-euro "conflict prevention" effort.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#0830: The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Benghazi says the UK's use of Brimstone jets on Ajdabiya overnight - designed to destroy targets without causing collateral damage - was exactly the sort of attack the rebels have been demanding. "Ajdabiya is the first town they will have to take if they are ever to make the long march from Benghazi to Tripoli, and they have been making no impression on Col Gaddafi's better equipped and more professional forces," he says.

#0915: BBC defence and security correspondent Nick Childs says the RAF Tornado strike on military vehicles near Ajdabiya last night was part of a significant operation involving several fighter jets and repeated attacks. "There have been a number of British strikes but they have tended to be long-range against significant major targets. This is the first of this type in which the Tornadoes have gone after forces on the ground."

#0920: The BBC's Ben Brown near Ajdabiya says despite last night's strikes the city remains an active frontline, with shelling from pro-Gaddafi forces seen earlier today. The city is surrounded by regime troops, he says, with the population stuck in the middle said to be quickly running out of food, water and electricity.

#1006: The BBC's Ben Brown near Ajdabiya says rebels have been pouring reinforcements into the area. "One commander said if there were more coalition air strikes they could take Ajdabiya today," he says, "but that may be wishful thinking".

#1131: A rebel fighter in Ajdabiya told the BBC he believed they would win the fight against Col Gaddafi soon, and that he was grateful for the coalition air strikes as they enabled the rebels to protect their people. "They are air strikes for humanitarian reasons - Gaddafi's brigades are killing people, torturing people," he said.

#1013: Mohammed in Misrata told the BBC that while it was quiet in the city last night the situation there remains dire, with no electricity and a lack of doctors and medical supplies.

#1014: "Misrata is besieged now for 35 days," he said. "They don't allow food to come in, they cut the water, they cut everything. And they are killing people every day by tanks and by snipers. So really, we don't see the benefit of the Nato strikes."

[visionary]

http://twitter.com/NicRobertsonCNN

Govt officls taking journalists to Tajura in east Tripoli to farm they say hit by coaltion strike, they claim civilian casualties. about 3 hours ago via web

Driving through E. outskirts of Tripoli, drive past mil base, apparent bomb damage, still smoking. about 3 hours ago via web

See soldiers & weaps campng in field, mobile surface to air missile launcher hidden under under trees nearby about 3 hours ago via web

About 5 miles further, driving past second base, apparent comms site heavy bomb damage, lots of smoke still rising about 3 hours ago via web

On periphery also saw small radar installation close to seafront road, also destryd in apparent strike. about 3 hours ago via web

Arrive at farm just east of Tripoli, missile fragmnts scattr ground, shrapnels peppers the walls --farm buildings still standing about 1 hour ago via web

Farmer says missile landed about 8 pm last night, says no military installation nearby about 1 hour ago via web

Before we left, officials said there'd been civilian casualties. Farmer says 1 woman was lightly injured, she wasn't there when we arrived. about 1 hour ago via web

Missile gouged small hole at foot of palm tree in orchard, sprayed debris wrecking windows and doors of the farm buildings about 1 hour ago via web

Driving back through Tajura, security very tight at prayer time, govt gunmen manning checkpoints at intersections about 1 hour ago via web

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#1415: Two explosions are heard near the eastern Libyan town of Ajdabiya, where a huge plume of smoke is seen rising, AFP reports.

#1432: Libya: Rebels on the approach to Ajdabiya say there are air strikes against Col Gaddafi's forces. "I am waiting for the jets to finish bombing before going in," Reuters quotes rebel fighter Ahmed al-Misrati as saying.

#1420: On the diplomatic front, some not very diplomatic sounding comments from Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to the Turkish agency Anatolia, he has said that France will be sidelined on Libya once Nato takes control of the operation, and this will be "positive".

Well **** him!

[twa]

How will France be sidelined if they and the US continue attacks outside nato?

There is a two tier setup with NATO simply taking over the no-fly part frm my understanding.

[visionary]

How will France be sidelined if they and the US continue attacks outside nato?

There is a two tier setup with NATO simply taking over the no-fly part frm my understanding.

Not sure, I have heard reports from NATO and US officials today saying that the US has already started scaling back and will be doing less and less.

Not sure about France and Britain.

I heard the same setup as you yesterday.

So unless something changed overnight, it seems like just talk by Turkey.

Heh, just saw a commercial on tv for Turkish airlines.

---------- Post added March-25th-2011 at 11:32 AM ----------

http://twitter.com/ksnavarra

#Libya pro-democracy fighters claim 'hundreds disappeared' from #Zawiyah 10 minutes ago via TweetDeck

#Qatar airforce jets fly over #Libya #NFZ 4 minutes ago via TweetDeck

#US Intelligence source to Al Jazeera: 'Gaddafi is negotiating an exit strategy' 2 minutes ago via TweetDeck

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#1527: From Nato spokeswoman Oana Lungescu: "Under Operation United Protector, Nato ships, submarines and jets are cutting the flow of arms and mercenaries to Gaddafi's forces.

At the same time Nato is actively considering whether to take on a broader role under the UN Security Council resolution. Without prejudging the deliberations, we would expect a decision to take over all operations in the next few days."

What about mercenary convoys going into the country from the south?

Although I'm not sure how much of a danger that really is right now.

[visionary]

http://twitter.com/acarvin

NATO says NFZ campaign over Libya might last three months. -Reuters 30 minutes ago via TweetDeck

Lt. Gen. Charles Bouchard of Canada to take NATO command of Libya. - AP 9 minutes ago via TweetDeck

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#1634: The rebel-controlled radio in Al-Bayda, eastern Libya, has been speaking to a regular guest, Colonel Ahmad, who assures listeners that the liberation of Ajdabiya is "imminent".

1645: A doctor in the besieged Libyan city of Misrata has told the BBC: "The Gaddafi troops are trying to enter the city from the west side of Misrata through an area called Zrieg, which is about 15km from the city centre."

---------- Post added March-25th-2011 at 01:12 PM ----------

HA HA, WTF?

On Al Jazeera they're showing the house and area that Nick Robertson of CNN was tweeting about earlier.

The reporter said it doesn't look as if a cruise missile did the damage to the area although there were signs of an explosion.

The 18 year old daughter of the family living there was apparently injured and taken to stay with her grandmother.

The wall of the farmhouse was covered in what looked to be bullet holes. (the AJE reporter said so too)

I'm thinking maybe the daughter was arrested or used as a hostage or something.

---------- Post added March-25th-2011 at 01:21 PM ----------

BBC's report on the same situation:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#1707: In Libya, the BBC's John Simpson was among a group of foreign journalists bussed to the suburb of Tajoura, which was targeted by international forces last night. "Nearby we were shown a farmhouse that had supposedly been hit," he says. "There were fragments from a missile lying around and a smallish hole in the ground where something had possibly landed. But the holes in the wall that we were told were shrapnel could only have been the result of someone firing an auto rifle at it. And although the farmer, a strong Gaddafi supporter, said his 18-year-old daughter had been injured, the gardner said it was a four-year-old boy. It all looked like a rather inadequate set-up, done for effect.

From all the reports that have come out the past week, it seems that Libyan officials are totally incompetent when it comes to faking civilian casualties. They get a C for trying so hard so often though.

---------- Post added March-25th-2011 at 01:38 PM ----------

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?fbid=214439568571997&id=197898230226131&aid=66836

Reported to be pictures of damage done to Zintan by Gaddafi forces:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?fbid=214439568571997&id=197898230226131&aid=66836#!/photo.php?fbid=214440508571903&set=a.214439568571997.66836.197898230226131&theater

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?fbid=214439568571997&id=197898230226131&aid=66836#!/photo.php?fbid=214443781904909&set=a.214439568571997.66836.197898230226131&theater

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?fbid=214439568571997&id=197898230226131&aid=66836#!/photo.php?fbid=214440155238605&set=a.214439568571997.66836.197898230226131&theater

[visionary]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#1725: Adel, the head of the rebels' media committee in the town of Zintan, has told the BBC: "Life is coming back to normal. We pushed the army back. People in other nearby towns and cities came to help us force the Gaddafi army back.

We also got lots of weapons from the retreating army and we used them to push them back further. Two days ago, we managed to capture a truck with with 180 missiles in it, so we started using them. We destroyed seven tanks and a number of 4-wheel-drive trucks."

http://twitter.com/hamzamu

#libya 8 died since the morning in Misrata,4 from the same family one is 7 months baby , they keep targeting houses 9 minutes ago via TweetDeck

http://twitter.com/LibyanDictator

Yesterday: #Misrata: Gaddafi brigade used mortar missiles targeting a supermarket with food supplies, causing it to burn down. #Libya #Feb17 about 7 hours ago via web

I saw a video of this somewhere.

#Misrata still experiencing shelling, Gaddafi forces have also been using mortar missiles since yesterday. #Libya #Feb17 about 7 hours ago via web

CORRECTION: #Misrata: 30 snipers captured or killed in the morning, 70 by the evening. An estimated 200 still left. #Libya #Feb17 31 minutes ago via web

That's a lot of snipers!

#Misrata experiencing heavy shelling in residential area, shelling targeting houses and flat blocks specifically. #Libya #Feb17 28 minutes ago via web

#Misrata: Confirmed death toll at 8, all families. Injured at 24, 3 hit by snipers, the rest during shelling of homes. #Libya #Feb17 26 minutes ago via web

Gaddafi forces ambushed by #Misrata fighters: 3 Toyotas with anti aircraft destroyed, 7 captured. Most mercenaries got away. #Libya #Feb17 23 minutes ago via web

---------- Post added March-25th-2011 at 02:10 PM ----------

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#1759: Reuters flashes an interesting news line from Libyan state TV: Col Gaddafi has apparently promoted all members of the armed forces.

#1805: Col Gaddafi's promotions will also include "general security" and the police, Reuters says.

Maybe he should have promoted himself....

---------- Post added March-25th-2011 at 02:28 PM ----------

http://twitter.com/acarvin

Vice Adm Gortney: Civilian protection in Libya will remain in US hands for now; might fall to NATO eventually. - Reuters 2 minutes ago via TweetDeck

---------- Post added March-25th-2011 at 02:34 PM ----------

http://twitter.com/LibyaInMe

NEW VIDEO: #Gaddafi bombing a Mosque in Misrata / Very moving :'(

#libya #feb17 8 minutes ago via web

M0fcSY3Iz_U

---------- Post added March-25th-2011 at 02:56 PM ----------

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#1850: The BBC's Ian Pannell was out in eastern Libya a little earlier, and has just filed his report: "We've just driven in from the eastern side of Ajdabiya heading into the city and in the distance there are plumes of black smoke rising from around the city, there is a fairly constant sound of booms which would suggest artillery mortars perhaps, air burst artillery as well.

A number of fighters have headed into the city ahead of us and the crackle of gunfire is audible every few seconds. Last night British jets attacked government troops here and that's given succour to the rebels. Without it, they're simply out-gunned and unable to fight for control and protect the people who live here."

[visionary]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#1939: Reuters quotes a rebel source in Misrata as saying that tank fire has killed six people on the outskirts of the Libyan city, while separate clashes in the city have left three rebel fighters and "some" government snipers dead.

#2010: And more from Reuters on the violence in the Libyan city of Misrata, quoting a rebel named Saadoun - whose claims cannot be independently verified - as saying: "There was shelling this morning and almost all of the day. It targeted a residential area in the outskirts of Misrata called al-Jazeera. Six people were killed including three sisters aged two, five and 12 years old. This residential compound is northwest of Misrata and they attacked it with mortars and tanks."

#2012: Reuters' rebel source, Saadoun, also says: "We had an encounter with snipers today and some were forced to leave the buildings. Some were killed and others fled. We do not have exact figures of their casualties but three of our fighters were killed."

I wonder if those guys with rockets in Zintan that I read about earlier could get to Misrata to help take out some tanks. Hopefully the coalition wouldn't attack them by accident though. It would probably be a dangerous march too, since they'd have to go around Tripoli, I believe.

Although there may still be Gaddafi forces near Zintan too.

http://twitter.com/arwaCNN

refugees say #gadhafi troops searching homes & taking men, shooting ppl after asking them 2 come out, stories of rape #libya #ajdabiya 11 minutes ago via web

refugees living in tents scattered in desert outside of #ajdabiya - harrowing stories of #gadhafi troops firing on civilians...(more) #libya 13 minutes ago via web

[visionary]

http://twitter.com/SweetCandyLibya

@ChangeInLibya Epic momment on Libya TV.they ask this pro-G kid protester 'so where are you' (city). kid replies 'well NOW we're in Zawiya'. 18 minutes ago via web

#2033: Latest from Libya: Arabic TV channel al-Jazeera says rebels have re-entered the hotly contested city of Adjabiya.

#2050: More on Ajdabiya from al-Jazeera: Libyan rebels say they have entered the government-controlled city from the east, and many pro-Gaddafi fighters were held hostage after fierce fighting.

#2114: The Libyan health ministry says at least 14 people have died and 445 have been injured in air strikes by international forces, AFP reports.

Things seem to have gotten worse in Misrata again.

On the other hand maybe some government officials will show up and get killed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#2137: The BBC has been in touch with a resident in the western city of Misrata who says Gaddafi forces have taken control of new areas there, and have been launching fireworks to celebrate. "It appears they're celebrating and the local libyan TV is there to record that, to make it seem that Misrata is under control of Gaddafi again."

---------- Post added March-25th-2011 at 05:49 PM ----------

#2143: More from the Misrata resident - whose account cannot be independently verified: "The human and medical situation is awfully serious, you can't imagine what's happening here. Some bodies comes to the polyclinic without head or arms or legs, some are totally burned, and the injured people don't have a place or space for treatment."

---------- Post added March-25th-2011 at 06:02 PM ----------

#2157: Rebel radio has announced that Misrata is under seige, BBC Monitoring reports. A radio announcer said: "We urge listeners to convey our voice to the international bodies. Misrata is besieged. There are no communications. It is hard to report what is happening in the town and we are using this medium to tell what is happening here.

The town is being pounded by long and short-range artillery. Mortar shells are falling on homes, shops and mosques, but the population is determined and resisting the hordes of the tyrant".

#2159: And a Misrata resident tells AFP: "The artillery shelling has been going on since Thursday night... They are firing on everything that moves... There is no water, no electricity and supplies are running short."