Libya News: Tripoli Under Attack from Rebels
Libya has reached a turning point in it’s campaign to oust Colonel Gaddafi as rebel fighters enter the capital Tripoli.
It seems that the end game for Colonel Gaddafi‘s reign over Libya is playing out tonight as rebel forces enter Tripoli and engage fighters loyal to the Libyan leader.
The rebels have captured key towns close to Tripoli in recent days, backed by NATO airstrikes and have continued their march towards the capital.
It appears that they have made a significant attempt to enter the Libyan capital today with rebel soldiers entering from the East and West to attack the city.
It is reported that they have taken over a base used by the Khamis Brigade, commanded by one of Colonel Gaddafi’s sons. They have captured a significant amount of weapons in the compound.
As always in areas of conflict a clear picture of what is, and what isn’t happening is very difficult to build up. What is clear however, is that the Libyan leadership is in severe trouble and that the game cannot be far from being over.
There a numerous reports of defections from those previously loyal to Gaddafi. The rebels are calling this the ‘zero hour’.
The war has been raging on for about 6 months now after uprisings in other Arab countries spurred those in Libya to take up the call to freedom in their own country.
NATO airstrikes, authorised by the UN to protect the citizens of Libya from coming under attack, have been pounding those troops loyal to Gaddafi.
In some quarters NATO has been criticised for going beyond the UN resolution but this has been denied by NATO command.
Libya After Gaddafi
The question occupying many minds tonight will not be if the government falls but what happens when they do.
Like many countries in the area, Libya is historically a tribal country with many different factions with different loyalties and interests.
Bringing these sometimes opposing sections of society together when there is a common enemy such as Gaddafi, is alot easier than when there is no such focal point.
However, in Libya, most people would be thankful for the chance todo exactly that.
Photo: OpenDemocracy
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