Re: THE DOMINO EFFECT IN THE MIDDLE EAST

**Panda** Sat 23 Apr - 7:58

Quatar has donated a Ferry which is moored near Tunis and the injured being treated by Medics from various Countries, most are civilians.

A libyan soldier captured by the Rebels has said Gadaffi has ordered his troops to withdraw and the Tribal leaders to take over who will be much tougher
on the Rebels.

**Panda** Sat 23 Apr - 8:07

he Libyan army could pull out of the rebel-held city of Misratah and be replaced by armed tribesmen, a senior government official has said.

:: Sky's Alex Crawford reports on injured civilians from a hospital in Misratah.

Deputy foreign minister Khaled Kaim issued the warning amid reports of significant successes for opposition forces in the city and of fresh Nato airstrikes in capital Tripoli.

He said Nato airstrikes had prevented fighters loyal to Colonel Moammar Gaddafi retaking Misratah and that tribal leaders had given the army an "ultimatum".

"If they can't resolve the problem in Misratah then the people from the region will move in," he said.

"The situation in Misratah will be eased, will be dealt with by the tribes around Misratah and the rest of Misratah's people and not by the Libyan army.

Khaled Kaim Warns Rebels

"The tactic of the army is to have a surgical solution but with the airstrikes it doesn't work."

A wounded Libyan government soldier echoed Mr Kaim's claims and told the Reuters news agency that the army had received orders to withdraw from Misratah.

He spoke after being captured by rebel forces.

Reports have emerged of some of the war-torn city's most strategically important sites - including its tallest building, the Tameen office block - being seized from the army by rebels.

Col Gaddafi's forces had used such buildings to retain control of Misratah, with snipers allegedly firing on people indiscriminately.

Mr Kaim also criticised America's move to start using drones, which he called a "dirty game" and said would "be another crime against humanity".

Drone

Predators, and the larger Reaper drones, are used by the US and Britain

Drones can fly lower and counter pro-Gaddafi forces' tactic of travelling in civilian vehicles that are difficult to distinguish from those of rebel forces.

Earlier, the US' most senior military officer Admiral Mike Mullen said Col Gaddafi's ground forces had been degraded by 30% to 40% - but warned the conflict is heading towards a "stalemate".

"It's certainly moving towards a stalemate," he said.

"At the same time we've attrited somewhere between 30% and 40% of his main ground forces, his ground force capabilities. Those will continue to go away over time."

Rebels Warned Tribes Could Move In

He added that the allies would "put the squeeze" on the Libyan dictator "until he's gone". "Gaddafi's gotta go," he said.

Meanwhile, US senator John McCain used a visit to Tripoli to call for increased military support for the country's rebels, including weapons, training and intensified airstrikes.

Hailing the opposition fighters as "heroes", he denied they contained al Qaeda elements as has been suggested.
*

Guest Sat 23 Apr - 9:17

@ksnavarra

Reports that #Gaddafi forces are withdrawing' from #Misurata
6 minutes ago via TweetDeck

**Panda** Sat 23 Apr - 9:26

carmen wrote:
@ksnavarra

Reports that #Gaddafi forces are withdrawing' from #Misurata
6 minutes ago via TweetDeck

Yes Carmen as sky news reported in the above post. The Libyan spokesman said the Tribesmen would not be so lenient with the Rebels.!!!!! the
No Fly zone is definitely not working, many civilians are being injured and killed, an 8 yr old boy has been blinded for life, another lad so traumatised
he cannot speak. The U.S. is sending Drones, but how does that help? How can any Pilot of a Plane distinguish between Civilians , Rebels or Soldiers
from such a height.???

Guest Sat 23 Apr - 9:57

Let's hope Bouckaert's right

10:23am
Al Jazeera has learnt that Libyan rebels have taken over the main hospital in Misurata which was under renovation and used by Gaddafi forces as a base. Rebels are also in control of Misurata bridge near thecity's western gate.

Medical sources say at least 13 people were injured in Friday's fighting, but there were no reported deaths.

8:46am
A Libya expert and rights advocate has told Reuters news agency on Saturday that the wall of fear protecting Gaddafi may soon crumble. Human Rights Watch emergency response director Peter Bouckaert said:

I think that we are reaching a tipping point. From our discussions with people in many of the western cities, they are waiting for the moment to join the protests.

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

**Panda** Sat 23 Apr - 10:10

carmen wrote:Let's hope Bouckaert's right

10:23am
Al Jazeera has learnt that Libyan rebels have taken over the main hospital in Misurata which was under renovation and used by Gaddafi forces as a base. Rebels are also in control of Misurata bridge near thecity's western gate.

Medical sources say at least 13 people were injured in Friday's fighting, but there were no reported deaths.

8:46am
A Libya expert and rights advocate has told Reuters news agency on Saturday that the wall of fear protecting Gaddafi may soon crumble. Human Rights Watch emergency response director Peter Bouckaert said:

I think that we are reaching a tipping point. From our discussions with people in many of the western cities, they are waiting for the moment to join the protests.

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

There is talk that there will be a divided Libya as in Korea, but who will have the Oil, I can"t see Gaddafi agreeing to surrender andy Refineries.

Guest Sat 23 Apr - 11:53

@ksnavarra

Evac to #Malta underway for UK journo Michael Bowen, injured in #Misurata shelling that killed Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros
21 minutes ago via TweetDeck

**Panda** Sat 23 Apr - 12:03

carmen wrote:
@ksnavarra

Evac to #Malta underway for UK journo Michael Bowen, injured in #Misurata shelling that killed Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros
21 minutes ago via TweetDeck

Just announced, Gaddafi Troops leaving Misurata, Rebels claiming victory but Gaddafi spokesman says Tribal Chiefs to take over.......very confusing!!!

Guest Sat 23 Apr - 13:17

It's being reported that Gaddafi forces are laying land mines in the streets of Misurata ....... Hence their withdrawal??? Makes sense with that crackpot!!!

**Panda** Sat 23 Apr - 13:57

carmen wrote:It's being reported that Gaddafi forces are laying land mines in the streets of Misurata ....... Hence their withdrawal??? Makes sense with that crackpot!!!

Oh my God......if he does that the U.N. will have troops in to overthrow him, they HAVE to do something, Syria too is facing huge losses, In izarra
#today, snipers killed three mourners attending a Funeral.

Guest Sat 23 Apr - 16:33

@ N_Benghazi

In short, DO NOT believe #Gaddafi's 'tribe' business, it is a ploy to prevent more NATO strikes. 5/5 #Libya #Feb17
about 1 hour ago via web
Retweeted by you and 10 others
Reply Retweeted (Undo)

Once G sends soldiers in calling them tribes, NATO cannot do anything. They'll call it civil war and the government is not responsible. 4/5
about 1 hour ago via web

For example, @NicRobertsonCNN @Nic Robertson constantly talks about power of the tribes, but they HAVE no power, just a ploy of Gaddafi 3/5
about 1 hour ago via TweetDeck

He has brainwashed reporters in Tripoli into believing in the "huge" power of the tribes and that they can take up arms in his support. 2/5
about 1 hour ago via TweetDeck

Gaddafi plans to dress soldiers in civilian clothes and call them tribes.1/5 #Libya #Feb17
about 1 hour ago via web

Guest Sat 23 Apr - 16:41

Joanne is a reliable source living in Libya

@FromJoanne

#MISRATA 15 People killed 31 wounded by Booby-Traps and in Ambushes set up by withdrawing #Gaddafi army on Saturday #Libya #Gaddaficrimes
less than a minute ago via web

**Panda** Sat 23 Apr - 16:47

carmen wrote:Joanne is a reliable source living in Libya

@FromJoanne

#MISRATA 15 People killed 31 wounded by Booby-Traps and in Ambushes set up by withdrawing #Gaddafi army on Saturday #Libya #Gaddaficrimes
less than a minute ago via web

Carmen, how many more innocent people must die or been seriously wounded ? Gadaffi has always been regarded as a madman and what or who is
going to stop him, he might not even be in Libya the slimeball.

Guest Sat 23 Apr - 16:50

Panda wrote:
carmen wrote:Joanne is a reliable source living in Libya

@FromJoanne

#MISRATA 15 People killed 31 wounded by Booby-Traps and in Ambushes set up by withdrawing #Gaddafi army on Saturday #Libya #Gaddaficrimes
less than a minute ago via web

Carmen, how many more innocent people must die or been seriously wounded ? Gadaffi has always been regarded as a madman and what or who is
going to stop him, he might not even be in Libya the slimeball.

I know, Panda, it's awful. He seems to have his mind on something else at the moment

https://missingmadeleine.forumotion.net/t14609-gaddafi-wants-costume-institute-exhibit-to-celebrate-superior-dress-sense

Guest Sat 23 Apr - 17:11

Libyan children suffering rape, aid agency reports
Children as young as eight have been subjected to sexual assaults, according to accounts given to Save the Children

David Batty and agencies
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 23 April 2011 14.40 BST
Article history

Benghazi, Libya, where children who have fled from sexual abuse are living in temporary camps. Photograph: Bernat Armangue/AP

Libyan children as young as eight have suffered sexual assaults, including rape, amid the worsening conflict across the country, a British aid agency has warned.

Although Save the Children said it could not confirm the reports, the charity said the accounts by children were consistent and they were displaying signs of physical and emotional distress.

The allegations come from 200 children and 40 adults who have fled from Misrata, Ajdabiya and Ras Lanuf and are now in temporary camps in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi.

The families told the charity's staff that children as young as eight had been sexually assaulted, sometimes in front of their relatives.

In one reported case, mothers claimed a group of girls had been abducted, held hostage for four days and raped, and were unable to speak when they were released.

Michael Mahrt, Save the Children's child protection adviser, said: "The reports of sexual violence against children are unconfirmed, but they are consistent and were repeated across the four camps we visited.

"Children told us they have witnessed horrendous scenes. Some said they saw their fathers murdered and mothers raped. They described things happening to other children, but they may have actually happened to them and they are just too upset to talk about it – it's a typical coping mechanism used by children who have suffered such abuse."

Mahrt said some children were displaying signs of physical and emotional distress: being withdrawn, refusing to play and waking up crying in the night.

The charity, along with other agencies, is conducting a 13-day assessment of the situation. It called on "the international community to ensure that all parties respect children's right to be protected from violence and abuse".

The charity said it was increasing its child protection work in Benghazi, training social workers to provide youngsters with psycho-social support.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/23/libyan-children-suffering-rape

Guest Sat 23 Apr - 17:21

5:05pm
Following are the latest available details of military activity in Libya:

* Libyan troops captured by rebels in Misurata said on Saturday the army had been ordered to retreat from the western port, and a rebel spokesman said soldiers had booby trapped bodies and buildings as they fled.

* A spokesman for Libyan rebels said the city of Misurata was freed from Muammar Gaddafi's forces on Saturday after a siege of Libya's third-largest city lasting nearly two months.

* The United States launched its first Predator drone strike in Libya on Saturday.

* NATO jets hit a target near Gaddafi's compound in central Tripoli early on Saturday, which the government described as a car park but which Reuters reporters said looked like a bunker.

* China has warned Britain over plans to send military officers to advise Libyan rebels struggling against Gaddafi's forces, saying that Beijing opposes any steps that go beyond the mandate of a UN resolution.

* NATO took command of Western military operations in Libya on March 31 and has about 200 aircraft at its disposal. It says its aircraft have conducted a total of 3,438, of which 1,432 have been strike sorties. NATO defines strike sorties as missions intended to identify and engage targets, but which do not always involve the use of munitions. Western military operations began on March 19.

* NATO conducted 138 sorties on Friday, including 59 strike missions. It said targets included:

- Two command and control bunkers in Tripoli.

- Three tanks, one bunker, one early warning radar and one surface to air radar in the vicinity of Misrata.

- Two tanks, two bunkers, buildings in the vicinity of Zintan.

- Three ammunition storage bunkers in the vicinity of Mizdah.

- One tank, one armoured vehicle in the vicinity of Ras Lanuf.

* A total of 18 NATO vessels have been patrolling the Mediterranean to enforce a UN-mandated arms embargo. On Friday, 47 vessels were hailed to determine destination and cargo. One vessel was boarded.

* A total of 571 vessels have been hailed and 14 have been boarded since the beginning of arms embargo operations. Five ships have been diverted.

* Of the 28 NATO states, only France, Britain, the United States, Belgium, Canada, Norway and Denmark have been conducting air strikes. Others have contributed aircraft and ships to support operations, enforce a no-fly zone and an arms embargo.
4:54pm
We are hearing reports that it is highly unlikely Misurata has been "freed" by the rebels, and that this is rather a "tactical withdrawal" by Gaddafi troops.

Earlier, a rebel army spokesman in Benghazi told Al Jazeera:

"It's a trick and he's [Gaddafi] is playing a dirty game ... saying his forces withdraw and will let the tribes deal with it ... I cannot talk now as I'm waitng for some information to come to me at 5 or 5:30pm, and I hope this info will expose Gaddafi's trick."
When asked about rebels claiming Misurata is now free, he said: "It probably means Tripoli street is free, they [the fighters] are not aware of the trick and the game been played ... Gaddafi is not stupid to give up Misurata ... do you know what it means that Misurata falls? It means Tripoli will also fall and so will other areas like Tajoora, Yefrin and others."
4:27pm
Al Jazeera's Mike Hanna sheds light on the current situation on the ground and the role "tribes" are playing in the battle for Libya: