Gadhafi: Withdrawal a tactical move
4:48 pm
National Transitional Council head Mahmoud Jibril will meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy this evening, Sky News reports. France was the first country to recognize Mr Jibril's transitional government.
4:41 pm
The Telegraph's Andy Bloxham reports that the 35 hostages being held at the Rixos hotel include journalists as well as an Indian member of parliament and the former US congressman Walter Fauntroy. Dario Lopez-Mills, who works for the US agency Associated Press, described the situation as a "$400-a-night prison, with a spa but no power or air conditioning, with candlelight but no romance. With the sound of machine gunfire outside and bullets whistling past the windows".
4:31 pm
A gang of armed robbers has attacked the Republic of Korea ambassador's residence in Tripoli, BBC reports, quoting South Korean news agency Yonhap. A diplomatic source in Seoul said about 30 people stormed the residence in the Libyan capital and stole "television sets and other gadgets", but no-one was hurt during the looting.
4:16 pm
There are fears this afternoon that nuclear stockpiles could be used to make a "dirty bomb". A former senior UN weapons inspector Olli Heiononen warns that a research centre near Tripoli stocks uranium and other material that could be used to make a nuclear "dirty bomb" and Libya's rebels will need to secure it, Reuters report.
4:11 pm
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is urging Col Gadhafi and the rebels to hold talks, reports Reuters. Mr Medvedev says Russia will consider establishing formal relations with the rebels if they can unite the country. He adds that Col Gadhafi still has some influence and military potential despite the rebel successes.
4:10 pm
Al Jazeera’s Sue Turton reporting live from inside Col Gadhafi's compound in Tripoli says fighting between rebels and loyalists still continues at the Bab al-Azizia site. Gadhafi snipers on the roof surrounding the site have killed one rebel fighter and wounded several others, she reports.
4pm
BBC’s Rana Jawad says there is still fighting going on at Col Gadhafi's compound and also in stretches of residential neighborhoods, where loyalists are walking the streets, saying "come out you rats" - using a preferred term of the old regime for their opponents. There is also fighting near the international airport.
Her colleague Matthew Price, who is trapped in the Rixos Hotel by Gadhafi minders, has been reporting more on the deteriorating situation there. "There's one [guard]... who was talking about his three-year-old son back home and the journalists who spoke Arabic were saying to him: 'You should put down your weapon and just go home, don't be a part of this, it's all over,' and he's saying, 'No, no, no; we should fight for our country, we need to fight for our leader.'"
3:37 pm
CNN's Rosemary Church tweets: 35 journalists in Rixos Hotel hoping, after 5 days holed up, that this will be resolved soon.
3:29 pm
A micro blog connected to opposition movement claims gunfire and men chanting pro-Gadhafi slogans has been heard coming from the Hai Dubai area, next to Salah el Din in the vicinity of Vietnamese Embassy in Tripoli, Reuters reports.
3:00 pm
Damien McElroy from London’s Telegraph reports “rebels claim to have entered an underground tunnel beneath Bab al-Azizia and say the compound won't be cleared until all the tunnels are flushed out. Concern mounts for fate of 30 journalists in Rixos hotel being held by regime loyalists.”
2:52 pm
More now on the 30 journalists being held at the Rixos hotel in Tripoli. BBC Radio 4 is reporting an ITN cameraman had an AK47 thrust in his face by Gadhafi loyalists who are preventing them from leaving.
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This Google map shows the Rixos hotel (right) in Tripoli, where 35 foreign journalists are being held by Gadhafi loyalists, in relation to Gadhafi's former compound of Bab al-Azizia which is now held by rebels. |
2:11 pm
Good afternoon it is shortly after 2 pm in Beijing and 8 am in Tripoli. If you are just joining us welcome to our live rolling coverage of the revolution in Libya. Here’s a brief assessment of the latest developments.
• Embattled Colonel Gadhafi is still on the run this afternoon after rebel fighters stormed his compound, seizing control of his headquarters. His whereabouts remain unknown with opposition forces speculating he may have retreated to his hometown of Sirte which is still under government control. A new audio recording has been released in which Gadhafi reportedly calls on Tripoli residents to "cleanse" the city”.
• Gun fire and explosions still echo around the city. Two powerful blasts rocked Tripoli earlier as a NATO plane flew over the city. Scud missiles have also been fired by Gadhafi loyalists from Sirte towards Misrata. Fighting is also reported in the town of Ajelat, west of Tripoli.
• A number of foreign journalists are being stopped from trying to leave the Rixos Hotel, in Tripoli. They are being held there by Libyan government minders. In his latest tweet CNN’s Matthew Chance writes “hoping this nightmare will end in a fizzle - not a bang.”
• Doctors are reporting a desperate shortage of medical supplies and staff after 2,000 wounded and hundreds dead in the fighting.
1:56 pm
The British government confirms there will be a National Security Council meeting on Libya at 4 pm (Beijing time) in Downing Street. The meeting will be chaired by Foreign Secretary William Hague as Prime Minister David Cameron has returned to his vacation.
1:43 pm
Reports are beginning to emerge claiming the rebels have taken a foreigner hostage. The Philippine Star, citing sources within the Department of Foreign Affairs, report that a Filipino was taken by a group of rebels in Libya on Monday.
1:25 pm
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 This is a recent satellite image (top) from Digital Globe showing Gadhafi's Tripoli compound that was seized by rebels and Google map (bottom) showing a wider view of the area.
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1:10 pm
Two powerful blasts rock Tripoli as a NATO plane flew over the city, AFP reports.
12:57 pm
Embattled Colonel Gadhafi has reportedly made another address on Al-Rai television, calling on Tripoli residents to "cleanse" the city, according to Reuters. He claims to have taken a "discreet" tour of Tripoli and the city was not in danger.
12:24 pm
Chinese Foreign Ministry Ma Zhaoxu said here Wednesday that China hopes Libya can realize smooth political transition. He said China pays attention to the grave changes of the situation in Libya, and respects the choice made by the Libyan people.
11:46 am
More now on the Scud missiles fired at Misrata. The Guardian's Chris Stephen reports they are being intercepted by US warships. He writes “A violent detonation and brilliant orange flash lit up the sky over Misrata in the early hours of Wednesday morning, with military authorities saying it was a scud missile intercepted, apparently by missiles from an American warship, seconds before it would land on the rebel-held Libyan city.
11:19 am
China's Foreign Minister has said the United Nations should lead post-war efforts in Libya, adding that Beijing was willing to help rebuild the country, Reuters reports. In a phone call with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said the UN, rather than Western governments alone, should coordinate international involvement in post-war Libya.
10:53 am
National Transitional Council spokesman Abdel Hafiz Ghoga has told Egyptian state television that Gadhafi must face trial in Libya before being transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC). "Gadhafi is still in Libya, if not in Tripoli, then he may have sneaked to the centre [of the country] or the south. We are keen to capture Gadhafi and to try him in Libya before he is tried in the criminal court.
10:44 am
Europe and the United States are preparing to unfreeze billions in frozen Libyan assets that will be crucial to supporting the country following the end of the Gadhafi regime, Sky News reports.
10:30 am
Libya's National Transitional Council spokesman Ahmed Jabril tells the BBC that it is only a matter of time before Col Gadhafi is captured: "There is some information that indicates that he's still in Tripoli; some other people are saying he might have left the capital towards the south. I think the issue now is not where Gaddafi is. It's about when he'll be arrested. Gaddafi, in our view, is no longer the leader of the country. He's a fugitive and he must be arrested as soon as possible."
10:27 am
Libya’s National Transitional Council spokesman Ahmed Jabril tells the BBC that it is only a matter of time before Col Gadhafi is captured: "There is some information that indicates that he's still in Tripoli; some other people are saying he might have left the capital towards the south. I think the issue now is not where Gaddafi is. It's about when he'll be arrested. Gaddafi, in our view, is no longer the leader of the country. He's a fugitive and he must be arrested as soon as possible.”
10:21 am
A number of foreign journalists are being stopped from trying to leave the Rixos Hotel, which is coming under fire, in Tripoli. They are being held there by Libyan government minders who claim they are there to protect the media. A number of tweets from CNN's Matthew Chance offer an insight into the situation. He writes: "Just had confirmation that a Maltese boat docked in a Libyan port. Would love to get on board and out of here." Earlier he tweeted: "We'd like to leave to a safer location and negotiate and exit, but we are being prevented from doing so." He also tweeted a number of messages on behalf of his crew to their families. “To Tom - Missy is missing you. She's doing well and will see you soon. To Josie - Paul is fine. He's taking some great pictures.”
9:57 am
A number of unconfirmed reports are circulating that the water supply in Tripoli has been poisoned. The BBC’s Rana Jawad says a local imam announced that the water supply had been poisoned and people had been taken to hospital, and he called on people to switch off their water supply. Libya Al Hurra TV also tweets: Water supply is being tested after two people were hospitalized for illness. Checkpoints instructing people not to drink the water.
9:34 am
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the dramatic unfolding events in Libya. Here’s a summary of the latest developments.
•Col Gadhafi vows death or victory in the fight against "aggression" after rebel forces seized control of his headquarters. In his first interview since the battle in Tripoli started, Gadhafi says his troops' withdrawal from the Bab al Aziziya compound was a tactic and claims it was leveled by 64 NATO airstrikes.
• Heavy fighting continues across the capital and some parts of the country. Pro-Gadhafi forces are attacking the town of Ajelat, west of Tripoli, with missiles and tanks. Rebels in Misrata say Scud missiles have been fired from Sirte, the hometown of Col Gadhafi and an area still under government control.
• Reports claim four hundred people have been killed and 2,000 wounded in three days of fighting between rebels and Gadhafi forces.
• Doctors in Tripoli say hospitals are struggling to cope with the number of people injured in the recent fighting. Medical supplies and staff are urgently needed.
8:04 am
A US congressman said on Tuesday that NATO must be held accountable for civilian deaths in Libya, accusing the organization of "illegally" pursuing regime change and "recklessly" bombing the civilians.
7:47 am
Libyan rebels said on Wednesday more than 400 people were killed and at least 2,000 were injured in the fight to wrench control of the Libyan capital Tripoli from Muammar Gadhafi, Al Arabiya Television said.
7:42 am
Tunisia shut the main border crossing with Libya late on Tuesday amid media reports Muammar Gadhafi's forces were shelling rebel positions in the nearby Libyan town of Zuara, a witness told Reuters.
7:24 am
Embattled Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi said early Wednesday that withdrawal from the Bab al-Aziziya compound in the capital Tripoli was a tactical move, local al-Orouba TV reported.
5:20 am
The pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV quoted Libyan rebel military spokesman Col. Ahmed Bani as saying on Tuesday the rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) is to move its headquarters from Benghazi to the capital of Tripoli within two days.
4:40 am
Members of the Libyan rebel National Transitional Council are expected to hold a summit with representatives from the United States, France, Italy, Britain, Turkey and Qatar in the Qatari capital of Doha on Wednesday to discuss the reconstruction of war-torn Libya, Chairman of the National Transitional Council's Executive Bureau Mahmoud Jibril said Tuesday.
3:20 am
The Iraqi government and many walks of the social life voiced their support for Libyan rebels on Tuesday, as the opposition forces have claimed the control of the capital city Tripoli.
2:35 am
A UN spokesperson on Tuesday said the urgent meeting on Libya, which will take place on Friday with the heads of regional and international organizations, will "develop ways in which the international community can work together on the post-conflict phase."
1:50 am
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi would meet Libyan rebel leader Mahmoud Jibril Thursday in Milan, Berlusconi's office said Tuesday.
1:20 am
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and U.S. President Barack Obama agreed to continue military support to Libyan rebels as long as the Gadhafi regime and his troops refuse to surrender, the Elysee Palace said Tuesday in a statement.
0: 15 am
The majority of Algeria newspapers issued Tuesday were surprised at the quick fall of Tripoli, while bemoaning Algeria's official position toward the civil war in Libya.
