Category Archives: International

International

U.K. to hold emergency National Security meeting about Libya, secret tunnels found under military compound, BBC now claims foreign reporters held by government forces

The British Prime minister’s office is holding an emergency National Security Council meeting on Libya. The meeting is being chaired by Foreign Secretary William Hague.

Rebels claim they’ve found tunnels under the Bab al-Azizia compound.  Sounds like fighting is taking place, rebels say they’re trying to “clear” the tunnels.

Despite many earlier reports from foreign reporters at the Rixos Hotel, saying rebels were threatening their lives, the BBC is now saying it’s Libyan government forces that’re doing the threatening.  They say one of their reporters was threatened when he tried to leave the hotel.

 

International

Gaddafi tours Tripoli, Rebels take Filippino citizen hostage

Muammar Muhammad al-Gaddafi has taken a brief tour of Tripoli, just to prove he is still alive, and still in Tripoli.  He’s made a TV address asking loyal Libyans to “cleanse the city”.

NATO responded with two air strikes.  Witnesses say the explosions were huge.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs reports that one of their citizens was taken hostage by rebels.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

U.S. to give Libyan Rebels $1.5 million, Germany pushes for UN to give Rebels cash, could mean Rebels are broke and will fall apart without being paid

President Obama is giving Libyan rebels $1.5  million in frozen Libyan funds.  At the same time Germany is demanding that the United Nations give the rebels funds that were frozen under the UN sanctions.

Germany is also going to issue rebels a huge $140 million loan, within days.

What this means is the fragile Libyan rebel alliance (aka Transitional National Council) has run out of money to pay for military operations, which include mercenaries.  A BBC report said the rebel alliance is so fragile that it could fall apart as soon as the war is over.  It’s more likely it’ll fall apart if it runs out of cash.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Moody’s downgrades Japan’s credit rating, says government is incompetent

Moody’s downgraded Japan, from double A2, to double A3.  Moody’s cited continuing government budget problems, huge government debt, and government incompetence.

One of the signs of government incompetence is what has become a revolving door of government agencies and leaders.  The latest change is that Prime Minister Naoto Kan has resigned, effective by the beginning of September.

Japan is the second largest foreign holder of U.S. government debt.

International

Water poisoning causes confusion among Rebels, China says NATO must not be involved with post Gaddafi Libya

China’s Foreign Minister says the United Nations, not U.S. led NATO,  should lead post-war efforts in Libya.  He added that China will help rebuild the country, but only if the UN is in charge.

Rumors of poisoned water in Tripoli, has rebels confused.  A BBC reporter said he overheard rebels arguing about whether the water was safe or not.  So far, no one has confirmed the story of two people going to hospital after drinking poisoned water.

 

International

Canadian citizen says Rebels trying to kill him, Canadian goverment says too bad!

“Given the volatile security situation, the Canadian Embassy in Tripoli has suspended operations until further notice.”-Canadian government statement

A man from Ottawa, Canada, says Libyan rebels are threatening to kill him.  Mahdi Nazemroaya, an independent journalist working for Russian and Arab media, is holded up in the Rixos Hotel.

His mother has been begging Canadian officials to do something to get her son out of Libya, they have refused.

Even Nazemoroaya’s alma mater, University of Ottawa, tried to get the Canadian government to help: “To call the government when a friend is in trouble, and hear ‘too bad so sad’, that is disappointing.”- Mireille Gervais, student appeal center

 

International, U.S.

Foreign reporters still under attack by Libyan Rebels, U.S. Navy intercepts SCUD, CNN reporter wants out!

Reporters still holed up in the Rixos Hotel, in Tripoli, say the hotel is still under attack by Rebels.  That’s because the area is still under the control of the Libyan government.  It seems the rebels have not taken Tripoli after all.

CNN’s Matthew Chance said this about the situation: “Just had confirmation that a Maltese boat docked in a Libyan port. Would love to get on board and out of here.”

Another report says that SCUD missiles, supposedly being launched from Sirte, are being intercepted by the U.S. Navy.  The SCUDs are targeting Misrata.

 

International

Israel bombs Gaza, close to Egyptian border

August 24, a vehicle in the town of Rafah, near the Egyptian border was hit by an Israeli missile.  One man killed, one injured.

This comes after Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, said: “This is a delicate situation and there is a real risk of endangering the (1979 Egyptian-Israeli) peace treaty, which is a precious strategic asset for Israel.”

A ceasefire was agreed to, but only between Hamas and Israel.  Hamas does not control all of Gaza.  Rocket attacks against Israel, since the cease fire, were done by rivals to Hamas.  The man killed by Israel today, is said to be a member of Islamic Jihad, not Hamas.

It is now known that the August 18 attacks on Israeli tour buses were not done by Hamas, but by a group known as Popular Resistance Committees.  Earlier Israel, and most of the western media, blamed Hamas for the tour bus attacks. 

International

Tripoli water supply poisoned, Gaddafi says war is still on, Rebel positions near Tunis under attack

Muammar Muhammad al-Gaddafi says government forces leaving Tripoli is a tactical move, the war is not over.  He also says NATO sent no fewer than 64 air strikes against the Bab al Aziziya military compound, in the recent fighting.

Reports coming from Tunis.  Tunisia has closed its border crossings, because rebel forces, near the border, are under heavy attack by Libyan government forces, including artillery attack.

Some BBC reporters are saying the water supply for Tripoli is contaminated, possibly poisoned.  Two people were taken to hospital after drinking tap water.  Some rebel checkpoints are warning people not to drink the water.