Tag Archives: Libya

International, U.S.

Britain reveals UN backed ground force operation in Libya

The United Kingdom’s Inner City Press revealed a 10 page document that shows a United Nations backed ground force operation is about to begin in Libya.  It will involve 200 military observers, 190 UN police officers and 61 civilians.

The operation is awaiting approval by the UN Security Council, and an official request from Libyan rebels.  It also details the creation of a new Libyan government, by the United Nations, not the rebels.

The 10 page “Martin report” also claims that the Libyan rebels committed war crimes, by killing prisoners and looting.  It also “doubts” that Gaddafi used mercenaries.

The report was apparently written on August 22, but was officially denied until Inner City Press got its hands on an official copy.

 

 

 

International

United Kingdom admits they have British soldiers on the ground in Libya, Britain & Rebels violate Geneva & Hague Conventions

The Daily Telegraph quoted Ministry of Defense officials, saying the SAS (Special Air Service) is on the ground and taking part in the battle for Tripoli.

Not only that, but the British officials admit they’ve had “boots on the ground” for several weeks.  The British SAS dress like civilians and use the same weapons the rebels are using.

It is a violation of the Geneva and Hague Conventions, for soldiers to dress like civilians.

Under the Geneva Convention, soldiers who wear civilian clothes are considered “illegal combatants”, and can be treated the same way that the United States is treating prisoners held in Guantanamo Bay (GITMO), and other prisons in Afghanistan, Iraq and other secret locations.  A “legal combatant” must wear a uniform, or an obvious sign indicating they are a government soldier.

The Hague Convention states that soldiers “…have a fixed distinctive emblem recognizable at a distance.”

However the Hague Convention says any civilians defending their territory from invasion (like the U.S. invading Afghanistan & Iraq) are considered “legal combatants” even if they’re wearing civilian clothes.  If captured they must be treated as an official “Prisoner of War”, under Hague Convention POW rules, as a uniformed soldier would be treated.

Since Libya was not invaded, under the Hague Convention the civilian rebels are not allowed the same rights as a uniformed soldier, even if the rebels are wearing a uniform.

The rebels have been officially recognized by many countries, giving the Trans National Council the status of a government.  This means the TNC should have issued some kind of standardized uniform, or sign, for their “soldiers” to be legal under international law.  On top of that they are not defending from an outside invader.

So, the Libyan rebels, and the civilian clothed British SAS, are “illegal combatants”.  After all, isn’t the United States about the rule of law?

 

 

 

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Confirmed, U.S. & EU push to unfreeze Libyan assets is because Rebels are broke, African countries opposed

The United States, Europe and other countries are pushing for the United Nations to unfreeze billions in Libyan assets.  This is on top of what the U.S. is unfreezing.

A Libyan rebel official admitted in a press conference they needed the money “…for supplies…to pay salaries.”

From the beginning the African Union has been oppossed to the NATO action in Libya.  Libya is a member of the African Union, and the AU wasn’t even consulted by the the United States and Europe, before the United Nations was tricked into approving military action against Libya.

South Africa, one of the most powerful members of the AU says it will vote no on unfreezing Libyan assets.

 

International

Bab al-Azizia a trap for Rebels, being hit from all sides

Reports that the Bab al-Azizia military compound in Tripoli, is under intense attack by government forces.

The fighting has been going on for hours.  Initially rebels found hidden tunnels under the compound.  Government forces were hiding inside and began attacking the rebels.

Then in the early hours of the next morning government forces appeared on the streets of Tripoli, heading towards Bab al-Azizia.  Witnesses say government forces surrounded the compound, the rebels having to fight government forces from inside, and outside the compound.

International

Reporters held in Rixos Hotel freed after Libyan official in London issued order

Libyan government forces let at least 35 reporters go free.  They were hold up in the Rixos Hotel in Tripoli.

It happened after Mahmud Nacua, the Libyan charge d’affairs at the Libyan embassy in London, urged the government forces to let the journalists go free.

CNN’s Mathew Chance said the government gunmen “…literally cast away their weapons and said they were sorry to us.”

International

South Korea says Libyan Rebels attacked and looted their Embassy, Russia says if Rebels win Russia will officially recognize them

South Korean news agency Yonhap, says their ambassador’s residence in Tripoli, was attacked by about 30 people. They stole “television sets and other gadgets”, but no-one was hurt during.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, is urging peace talks between rebel and government forces. Medvedev says Russia will consider establishing formal relations with the rebels if they can unite the country.

 

 

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.