- Reuters
Libyan rebels hit by NATO air attack - From Al Jazeera
A NATO air attack has hit a Libyan rebel position near the eastern oil town of Brega, killing at least five fighters, according to rebel fighters and a hospital worker.
Thursday's attack also left at least 10 others wounded, witnesses and correspondents of the AFP news agency said.
Medical workers carried uniforms soaked in blood from one of hospital rooms. And some rebel fighters were weeping on their knees in the corridor.
It was the second time in less than a week that rebels blamed NATO for bombing their comrades by mistake. Thirteen died in an air raid not far from the same spot on Saturday.
A Reuters news agency reporter saw bloodstained stretchers being brought out of the hospital in Ajdabiya, where those wounded in the attack were being treated.
Ajdabiya lies about 80km from Brega.
"We were standing by our tanks and NATO fired two rockets at us," said one, Salem Mislat. "NATO are liars. They are siding with Gaddafi."...Al Jazeera
The world must witness this, there has been suspicion last week they took a long time to respond Misurata. I think The UN Chief must authorise of an investigation whether the NATO is actually Gaddafi side or the Pro-Democracy Fighters!
The world, the whole world journalists and the whole world whoever doing online blogging networking you must let the world know this incident of NATO, killed the Libyan fighters, publish around the world so we the world must know what NATO’s intention is! The UN Chief must calling for investigation for this NATO killing___
...
In pictures: Nato 'hits Libya rebels' in air raid BBC
Libyan rebels near Ajdabiya 'killed in Nato air strike'
...
They are asking why rebel units were hit, he adds, when they could be seen clearly advancing in a westerly direction towards the front line.
"It is unbelievable," said one Benghazi resident. "Nato, with all the equipment they have - is this the second mistake? Is it really a mistake or something arranged secretly?"
Another said: "The allies and the UN Security Council must allow us to be armed. We don't want anything, just to be armed to defend ourselves against this dictator and fascist."
...
Nato said it was investigating the incident, noting that the area where the attack occurred was "unclear and fluid with mechanized weapons travelling in all directions".
"What remains clear is that Nato will continue to uphold the UN mandate and strike forces that can potentially cause harm to the civilian population of Libya," said the alliance in a statement.
Meanwhile, a different rebel spokesman said Thursday's fatal air strike was carried out by pro-government forces rather than by Nato.
"This was not a Nato air-strike; on the contrary, it was conducted by Gaddafi's brigades using SIAI Marchetti SF-260 planes," Col Ahmad Bani told al-Arabiya television.
...
Misrata has been under attack by Libyan government forces for several weeks, and Libyan rebels have complained it would "cease to exist" within a week unless Nato took action to save it.
Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has defended his policy in Libya, after criticism by some Libyan rebels that Turkey was trying to keep Col Gaddafi in power and had blocked access to rebel arms supplies
_________
Here is CNN interview Eman al-Obeidy
Everything they said about me is a lie," she said.
"I am well-educated unlike the way the Libyan TV portrayed me. I come from a good family, regardless of what they said, I am also not mentally challenged like they said. Just because I raised my voice and talked to the media they blamed me and questioned my sanity. Nonetheless, I want my rights, even without the media."
...
At one point, al-Obeidy told her fellow citizens in eastern Libya and the besieged western city of Misrata to be strong. After the interview was over, Gadhafi objected to that line. Al-Obeidy agreed to Gadhafi's request that it be cut from the video, but only with full disclosure that those 10 seconds had been removed
Don’t forget the fact that Gaddafi is Gaddafis no matter what!
___________
BBC John Simpson: The staying power of Col Gaddafi
My comment on Simpson's view of Gaddafi: Gaddafi staying power is supported by a strong and determined minority?; two group of people, i) his own sons and their little army which terrorised carried out atrocity. Remember if they are not Gaddafi they are not brutal as they are now. large military defect to the Pro-Democracy movement. Gaddafi’s sons are work their own interest “ blood thicker than water!” ii) another strong determined minority group is hold up against their will because they can not defect becase their families are human hostages in Tripoli. They can not leave but pretending at the moment.
Gaddafi has same desperation for as the Pro-Democracy fighters different reasons. ICC after them etc…they will fight until last option left. They have been thought Libya was their own, hard to accept their ending. That is why killing Gaddafi is the most effective in every way.
Also they have own money which Oil money they put their own family coffer. Been through sanctions Gaddafi knew that he had stack up cashes so current sanctions doesn’t impact on them much for while yet. Yes they use propagandas as a tool for marginalising their enemies. But most of all except their own sons who is going to fight for Gaddafis, yes there is Wafa tribe support Gaddafi for becase Gaddafi promised them for money for thier ideological support, that can be turn it around hence thier interest in money not Gaddafi. In this age of - free thinkers no such thing support one dictator-family. After this uprising, almost all families in Libyan affect on this atrocity one or another way. Large above 70% urbanised Libyan population freely access outside information and large percentage of people have travelled abroad.
AND most importantly the world yes USA UK French etc… power brokers simply they know that they have to back to the Pro-Democracy movement for their OWN interest. No one else but their OWN. That is current movement. The world can not afford against the Current. Very practical reason not ideological. The time has come so the world simply accept it as fact. Gaddafis is not option anymore. They are insignificant but pain in ass at the moment, that is the world point view. Gaddafis has no future.
_________
Here NYT : Libyan Rebels Say Airstrikes Killed 5
…
The commander, Gen. Abdul Fattah Younes, said the tanks — deployed by the rebels on Thursday to the frontlines for the first time — came under “a fierce attack” around 10:30 a.m. “It is likely it is NATO by mistake,” he said, adding that the rebels had notified NATO well in advance that the tanks were headed to the battlefield.
…
Another wounded fighter, Amin Jaman, 32, said that all of the vehicles in the convoy were flying the bright, tricolor Libyan rebel flag. He said that he was standing on top of a stationary tank, and never heard the sound of an airplane when the first ordnance exploded nearby
Yes we have to open minded, emotional to grieve our loss yet rationalised this event I know it is hard not to wholly emotional but we can not afford not to open minded. Nato has to answer for this event after thier investigation...possible Gaddafi trick we may consider that too...
