Kanali Gadaffi
Maafisa 8 wakuu waliojitenga na jeshi la Kanali Muammar Gaddafi, wametoa wito kwa wanajeshi wenzao kuwaunga mkono na kuwasaidia waasi.
Mmoja wa wanane hao alishutumu vikosi vya Gaddafi kwa kutekeleza "mauaji ya halaiki".
Wanaume hao wanaosemekena kujumuisha majemedari watano walihutubia waandishi wa habari mjini Rome, Italia.
Wakati huo huo Rais wa Afrika Kusini Jacob Zuma, amefanya mashauriano na Kanali Gaddafi, mjini Tripoli, katika juhudi za kuleta suluhu kwa mzozo huo unaoendelea.
Mmoja wa majemedari hao waliozungumza na waandishi wa habari mjini Rome na anajulikana kama Oun Ali Oun, alisoma ujumbe wa wito kwa wanajeshi wenzake na maafisa wa usalama kujitenga na utawala huo.
Wanajeshi wa waasi nchini Libya
Wanajeshi wa waasi nchini Libya
Pia alikanusha "mauaji ya halaiki " na "mashambulio dhidi ya wanawake katika miji tofauti ya Libya"
Jemedari mwengine, Melud Massoud Halasa, aliambia waandishi wa habari kwamba vikosi vya Kanali Gaddafi "vimebaki na 20% tu ya uwezo" tofauti na walivyokuwa kabla ya mapigano, na "majemedari wanaomuunga mkono si zaidi ya 10".
Waziri wa zamani wa mashauri ya kigeni wa Libya, Abdel Rahman Shalgam,ambaye sasa anaunga mkono waasi na alikuwepo kwenye mkutano huo na waandishi wa habari amesema katika siku za hivi karibuni,wanajeshi 120 wamehamia upande wa upinzani.
Tangu kuanza kwa makabiliano mwezi Februari maafisa wa jeshi,mawaziri wa serikali, na mabalozi wamemkimbia Kanali Gaddafi.
The Rocket Car
Libyan Rocket | The Safest Car Ever-Made :
There’s only a handful of countries known for building cars. Most of them are in Europe or the Far East. Colonel Muammar Gaddafi wants to add what is called the Libyan Rocket, the car designed to solve the problem of high instance of road deaths in the north African country.
The “Libyan Rocket”, as the prototype is called, is described as an “elegant sedan” 17 feet long, more than six feet wide, with a 3-liter, V-6 gasoline engine, car seats five, has the nose and tail of a rocket. According to the BBC and Fox News, it also has airbags, an unspecified ‘electronic defense system’, and a collapsible bumper that supposedly help out in a crash. The car can go hundreds of miles on a flat tire. Other safety features include a device to cut off the fuel supply to avoid a fire in case of accident.
Launched at a conference called the Organization of African Unity and organized by Colonel Qaddafi, the Rocket is set to be be produced in Tripoli, Libya’s capital where a factory is set to be built next month, according to the BBC.
There’s only a handful of countries known for building cars. Most of them are in Europe or the Far East. Colonel Muammar Gaddafi wants to add what is called the Libyan Rocket, the car designed to solve the problem of high instance of road deaths in the north African country.
The “Libyan Rocket”, as the prototype is called, is described as an “elegant sedan” 17 feet long, more than six feet wide, with a 3-liter, V-6 gasoline engine, car seats five, has the nose and tail of a rocket. According to the BBC and Fox News, it also has airbags, an unspecified ‘electronic defense system’, and a collapsible bumper that supposedly help out in a crash. The car can go hundreds of miles on a flat tire. Other safety features include a device to cut off the fuel supply to avoid a fire in case of accident.
Launched at a conference called the Organization of African Unity and organized by Colonel Qaddafi, the Rocket is set to be be produced in Tripoli, Libya’s capital where a factory is set to be built next month, according to the BBC.
Muammar Gaddafi to power The intrepid colonel took the opportunity to present two prototypes style more than questionable, drawn from his own hand (well that’s what he claims) and whose implementation has been funded by Libyan capital.
Made by the Italian supplier Tesco TS, the Rocket would cost in the 2 million euros,
“the letter to follow the ideas of chief designer (so Gaddafi) to produce the perfect car according to the leader’s vision,” dixit pamphlet distributed to the few journalists present on site. Also according to this, Moumou would have inspired a “boat race” for his frightful designed toy, which is according to him “the future of the automotive world. The interior is heavily loaded with local crafts as this area has tapestries libiennes (good taste guaranteed), and full-grain leather. A feasibility study is underway to assess the possibility of producing this interstellar monster on Libyan soil. Who wants one?
Gaddafi, Jacob Zuma, South Africa
2 hours 24 min ago - Libya
Goldman Sachs invested more than $1.3 billion from Libya's sovereign-wealth fund in currency bets and other trades in 2008 and the investment lost more than 98% of its value, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing internal Goldman documents.
When the fund, controlled by Muammar Gaddafi, made huge losses Goldman offered Libya the chance to become one of its biggest shareholders, the Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.
Goldman Sachs was not available for comment, outside of normal US business hours.
Tags Goldman Sachs, investment, protest, violence
2 hours 28 min ago - Libya
Libya's rebel foreign minister Fathi Baja says the international community is no longer talking about "political initiatives" in Libya but about taking steps to ensure that Muammar Gaddafi steps down.
Speaking to AP Television in Benghazi, the de facto rebel capital, Baja said: "Now they are talking about, most of them, about taking some steps for Gadhafi's leaving and this is really for us some kind of a change."
I don't think there will be any initiatives. The discourse now of the international community in general has been changed. Now they are not talking about political initiatives, now they are talking about, most of them, about taking some steps for Gadhafi's leaving and this is really for us some kind of a change.
Russian stance changed 180 degrees now. They are asking him (Gadhafi) to leave. Russia is also talking about steps for Gadhafi to leave power. So, it's in fact, it's economically speaking, also he's facing big problems inside Tripoli. - Fathi Baja
Tags Gaddafi, protest, rebels, violence
2 hours 59 min ago - Libya
Residents of Benghazi celebrated the temporary launch of Libya Alhurra TV - a new, independent television channel on Monday night.
Crowds of people gathered in the de facto rebel capital to watch Libya Alhurra TV being broadcast on large screens. Libya Alhurra TV broadcasts news from rebel-controlled Libya via the internet.
I'm full of happiness and joy because of this moment which we have waited for for a few months. Now we are so happy to announce Libya Alhurra today to begin broadcasting. Mohamed Fanouch, local media coordinator
Tags Benghazi, journalists, protest, violence
3 hours 32 min ago - Libya
Dr. Idris Traina, a Libyan activist and a long-time member of the Libyan opposition who was jailed by Gaddafi as a young student sits down for a Q&A with Al Jazeera.
How do you assess the outcome of Zuma’s meeting with Gaddafi?
What Zuma has said basically shows that Gaddafi is merely reiterating the Road Map proposed by the African Union (AU), which he said before, so really nothing new came out of this meeting.
He just said that he accepted what he had already accepted before, which is the AU’s Road Map. But this road map is not accepted by the TNC or anybody else in Libya.
What would you have expected from Zuma’s intervention for it to be considered a step forward?
Basically any deal that does not say that Gaddafi will leave the country, and his family and his regime as well, is not acceptable to anybody in Libya right now by any means and I’ve heard that from everyone, from friends and from people inside the country. This point is not negotiable.
Zuma came out of the meeting saying that Gaddafi had agreed to a ceasefire, but this means nothing. It is not a first step. The TNC has announced that it will not hold discussions on the future of Libya with Gaddafi, except for his own fate to leave the country.
The future of Libya will be discussed in the absence of Gaddafi. He should think of his own future now and that’s all.
How credible is Zuma as a mediator, or as a person to broker an exit strategy for Gaddafi?
We thought Zuma was going there to discuss a deal with Gaddafi to leave the country and stop the bloodshed. But all they seem to have talked about was a ceasefire. Nobody is interested in it now, after he killed so many people.
What is a viable exit strategy for Gaddafi? Where do you see him going?
He can go to hell. We don’t care. Nobody will accept him. He killed so many Libyans, so many people. If there is a country that accepts him, they can take him. South Africa, Latin America, Russia… although Russia recently said No.
So that shows how many friends he has out there. He thought he was going to force the hand of Libyans and now he finds himself in that situation.
How much longer can the Libyan people continue resisting Gaddafi’s pressure before they reconsider the terms of negotiation and begin by accepting a ceasefire?
The Libyan people are very resilient and are willing to wait for as long as it takes to get him out. We are patient enough to stay for a year or more till it ends, but we are hoping that he will leave in a few days or a few weeks.
12 hours 54 min ago - Libya
More than 100 military officials and soldiers have defected from Libya's armed forces in recent days, according to a group of eight military officers, as pressure mounts on leader Muammar Gaddafi to step down.
The high-ranking Libyan army officers appeared at a press conference in Italy on Monday, where they announced that they were part of a group of as many as 120 military officials and soldiers who defected from Gaddafi's side in recent days.
The hastily called news conference was organised by the Italian government for the the eight officers - five generals, two colonels and a major.
"What is happening to our people has frightened us," said one officer, who identified himself as General Oun Ali Oun.
"There is a lot of killing, genocide ... violence against women. No wise, rational person with the minimum of dignity can do what we saw with our eyes and what he asked us to do."
Another officer, General Salah Giuma Yahmed, said Gaddafi's army was weakening day by day, with the force reduced to 20 per cent of its original capacity.
"Gaddafi's days are numbered," said Yahmed.
Abdurrahman Shalgam, the Libyan UN ambassador, who has also defected from Gaddafi, said all 120 military personnel were outside Libya now, but he did not say where they were.
18 hours 7 min ago - Libya
Al Jazeera's Cal Perry in Benghazi said that there was a lot of confusion around the South African president's visit to Tripoli.
"We heard initially that [President's Zuma's] visit was to "find an exit strategy for Colonel Gaddafi", [but] his aides have since knocked down these reports, calling them misleading and framing this visit as more of a regional visit to discuss humanitarian concerns.
"One of the issues that this visit raises is a political question ... certainly here in the eastern part of the country, or what they might call liberated Libya ... people here are fearful that if a political deal is struck, what would the cost of that political deal be and would this mean a divided Libya ... there is a concern on the ground that this could potentially happen".
Gaddafi seeks Russia energy pact
Dmitry Medvedev and Muammar Gaddafi (1 November 2008)
Russia said energy and foreign policy were the main points of discussion
The Libyan leader,
Col Muammar Gaddafi, has said he hopes to increase energy ties with Russia, during his first visit to Moscow since the Soviet era.
Col Gaddafi said closer co-operation between the two major gas and oil producers was "particularly important".
Correspondents say Russia wants Libya to support its plans for a cartel of gas-producing nations, similar to Opec.
It has also been reported that the two countries are negotiating a civilian nuclear co-operation agreement.
Under the deal,
Russia would help Libya design, develop and operate nuclear research reactors and provide fuel, Libyan media said.
Libyan Foreign Minister Abdel Rahman Shalgham and state media said Russia's atomic energy agency and the Libyan Committee for Nuclear Energy had already signed the accord, but a spokesman for Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said discussions were still under way.
'Fruitful' talks
Col Gaddafi held separate meetings with President Dmitry Medvedev and with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at the start of his first visit to Russian since 1985.
Co-operation between our two countries in the oil and gas areas is particularly important in the present situation
Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi
The Kremlin gave no details other than to say that energy, and questions of co-ordination in foreign policy, had been the main themes.
"Libya and the Russian Federation are major producers of oil and gas and we included in our delegation the chiefs of our national oil company to discuss questions of co-ordination with their Russian colleagues," the Libyan leader told reporters before the talks with Mr Medvedev.
"Co-operation between our two countries in the oil and gas areas is particularly important in the present situation."
Col Gaddafi noted that previously relations between the two countries had mainly focused on military and diplomatic contacts.
"There was virtually no co-operation in civilian sectors," he added.
A Russian source described Saturday's talks as "fruitful".
Russia is reported to be hoping to persuade Libya to back its plans for a gas-producing cartel that would include Algeria, Iran, Qatar and several Central Asian nations. Such an organisation would strengthen Moscow's ability to control Europe's energy supply.
Prior to the visit, Russian media had speculated that there might also be discussion of further Russian arms sales to Libya, and one report suggested Libya might offer Russia the opportunity to open a naval base in Benghazi.
Russian warships in Libya, October 2008
Russian ships docked in the Libyan port of Benghazi in October
Russia has only one naval base operating in a foreign country - in Sevastopol in Ukraine.
But Ukraine's president has made clear he would like that closed when Russia's lease is up in 2017.
Last month, Russian warships docked in Libya before taking part in joint naval exercises with the Venezuelan navy.
The move came six months after Mr Putin visited Libya, during which he wrote off billions of dollars of Libyan debt, in exchange for multi-billion dollar business deals, including a contract with Russian Railways and another with Gazprom.
There has also been speculation that the Kremlin was hoping to press the Libyan leader over potential arms deals.
Col Gaddafi is reportedly in the market for air defence systems, fighter jets, tanks and combat helicopters, as well as service contracts for its ageing Soviet-built arsenal.
In keeping with his habit on foreign visits,
the Libyan leader pitched a Bedouin tent in the garden of the Kremlin, the BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow says. A barbecue grill was set up in front.
Stop illegal immigration, Gaddafi tells Africa-EU summit
Exclusive: Bingu snubbed by AU, shuns Africa-EU summit
AU snubs Mutharika on Africa-EU summit venue
Kasambara says 3rd term proponents insulting Bingu
The third Africa-EU summit ended on Tuesday in Tripoli,
Libya with the call by Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi on Europe to stop illegal immigration against Africans who are ill treated and deported to Africa in degrading and inhuman manner.
“We should stop this illegal immigration. If we don’t,
Europe will become black, it will be overcome by people with different religions, it will change,” Gaddafi said when he opened the Summit for economic co-operation in the Libyan capital.
Gaddafi demanded 5 billion Euros from the EU to control illegal migration into Europe or face becoming “black.”
Heads of state and government of African and EU countries gathered in the Libyan capital Tripoli to discuss key issues such as Africa’s development goals,
bilateral trade and the influx of illegal migrants into Europe.
Gaddafi: Africa want win-win relations with Europe
Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika who is chairman of African Union (AU) pulled out of the summit and sent a minister of economic planning Abbie Shawa to represent him after African Union Commission refused his order to change the venue from Tripoli to Ethiopia.
Dozens of leaders, including Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi and Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, attended the summit.
In his speech the Libyan leader said the period of master-servant relationship between Europe and Africa belongs to the past.
“We have failed in our economic partnership with Europe,” he said.
“We want win-win relations based on mutual interest and not on exploitation,” Gaddafi added.
“Europe talks to us of governance, human rights,” Gaddafi said. “We focused on politics and left aside the economy. Africa needs economics, not politics.”
“Africa and Europe need each other,” the Libyan leader said.
He said Africa today is looking for partners who will deal with her on an equal footing.
“Africa has other choices,” he said “Let every country and every group governs itself. Every country is free to serve its own interests. Africa can look to any other international bloc such as Latin America, China, India or Russia.”
The International Monetary Fund and World Bank “have destroyed Africa” and the word “terrorism” could as well be applied to the World Bank and the WTO as to Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda, Gaddafi said.
The summit also issued a second action plan for the Joint Africa- EU Strategy, with members agreeing to boost efforts in eight strategic areas of partnership, originally agreed upon at the second Africa-EU summit in Lisbon in 2007.
The partnership areas are peace and security, democratic governance and human rights, trade and regional integration, millennium development goals, energy, climate change, migration, and science.
The summit agreed that its next round would be held in Brussels in 2013.–Nyasa Times/ Agencies
