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Gaddafi Strikes At Oil Refinery, Escalating the War

March 10, 2011 Comments off

bigpeace.com

Libyan government warplanes have struck an oil facility near the rebel-held eastern town of Ras Lanuf during a heavy bombardment aimed at driving out opposition forces trying to topple Libya’s leader Moammar Gadhafi.

The warplanes bombed the As Sidr oil facility Wednesday, causing a fire and sending huge plumes of smoke into the sky. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Forces loyal to Gadhafi also shelled rebel positions west of Ras Lanuf, forcing the rebels to retreat. The oil port represents the front line of the rebels’ advance out of their stronghold of eastern Libya.

Libyan government forces also were tightening their siege of the western town of Zawiya, the closest rebel-held area to Gadhafi’s power base in the Libyan capital, Tripoli. Residents said Gadhafi loyalists were surrounding rebels holding out in Zawiya’s central square, using snipers and tanks in the assault.

In remarks broadcast on state television Wednesday, Gadhafi called on Read more…

Categories: age of rage, Libya, Oil, Protests Tags: , , , , , , ,

Omani Forces Break Up Demonstration

March 2, 2011 Comments off

voanews.com

Omani forces have dispersed demonstrators who were blocking the road to a port in the northern industrial city of Sohar, where protests earlier this week turned deadly.

Reuters news agency quotes witnesses as saying one person was injured Tuesday when security forces fired warning shots into the air.  Witnesses said tanks were also deployed.

The protesters had taken to the Read more…

Categories: age of rage, Oman, Protests Tags: , , , , , ,

Zawiyah: 30 miles from Tripoli, the city on the frontline of Libya’s revolt

February 28, 2011 Comments off
A man stands on a Libyan tank

guardian.co.uk

A man stands on a Libyan army tank manned by soldiers opposed to leader Muammar Gaddafi in the city of Zawiyah, holding a sign that reads in Arabic ‘Our demand: freedom.’ Photograph: Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters

“If you go down there you will meet young men with guns,” said one of the Libyan government minders. “Please be careful,” he warned.

The crossing from the territory controlled by the regime of Colonel Gaddafi to rebel-held land was a short walk, as unexpected as it was bizarre.

Bizarre, because we had been delivered to the edge of the city of Zawiyah by Gaddafi’s men, who were supposed to be showing us how far their leader’s writ still extended. Instead they let us out of our cars and made no effort to prevent us crossing to the other side.

The “down there” mentioned by the minder was a broad boulevard with barricades across the street. A man with a machine gun came out of a door, ammunition belt across his shoulder. A half hour’s drive from the centre of Tripoli and Gaddafi’s control had Read more…

Categories: age of rage, Libya, Protests Tags: , , , , , , , ,

As Libya uprising reaches Tripoli Gaddafi vows to ‘open up the arsenals’

February 25, 2011 Comments off

guardian.co.uk

RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY An image from Libyan state television of Muammar Gaddafi during a speech to supporters in Tripoli. Photograph: AFP Photo/Libyan TV 

Libya‘s uprising reached the heart of Tripoli on Friday as anti-regime demonstrators defied a security clampdown to demand Muammar Gaddafi‘s overthrow amid hopes that key military units in the west of the country would defect.

Gunmen in cars reportedly opened fire on protesters as they streamed out of mosques after Friday prayers. Witnesses described shooting in streets near Green Square in the heart of the city.

Information remained patchy, confused and sometimes contradictory, but up to seven people were reported shot Read more…

Categories: age of rage, Libya, Protests Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Parties up pressure on Moroccan King for reform

February 24, 2011 Comments off

By Souhail Karam

RABAT (Reuters) – Two of Morocco’s biggest political parties and human rights groups have joined calls by a youth movement for constitutional reform that could reduce the role of the king.

Most Moroccan political parties boycotted a February 20 nationwide protest calling for the adoption of a parliamentary monarchy, the dismissal of the coalition government and the dissolution of parliament.

The march, in 53 towns and cities, was organised by the February 20 Movement for Change, and was joined by youths of the banned Islamist Justice and Charity opposition group. The

Interior Ministry said 37,000 people took part in the protest while organisers put the number at 300,000.

Morocco’s King Mohammed said on Monday he would not cede to Read more…

Categories: age of rage, Morocco, Protests Tags: , , , , , ,

World On Fire – Mapping Last Week’s 88 Global Protests

February 20, 2011 Comments off

from ZeroHedge.com

Feeling like the entire world is on the verge of a global revolution? It’s understandable. According to the attached interactive map, based on Google News data, in the past week, there have been 88 reported instances of protest somewhere in the world. How much of this is due to snow, and how much is due to Bernanke’s increasingly more genocidal policies (has anyone done a tally of how many people have died in various riots, protests and revolutions since the beginning of the year – perhaps it is time) is unknown and irrelevant.

Categories: age of rage, Protests, world Tags: , , ,

Video: Libyans claim Gaddafi shipping in African mercenaries to crack down on protesters

February 20, 2011 Comments off
Categories: age of rage, Libya, Protests Tags: , , , ,

Libya Crackdown on Protests Kills 24: Rights Group

February 19, 2011 Comments off

commondreams.org

CAIRO – Libyan security forces killed at least 24 people in a violent crackdown on anti-regime demonstrations during a “Day of Anger” against strongman Moamer Kadhafi, Human Rights Watch said Friday. The New York-based rights group, citing witnesses, said 24 protesters were killed and scores injured during Thursday’s assaults on protests in two Libyan cities. The New York-based rights group, citing witnesses, said 24 protesters were killed and scores injured during Thursday’s assaults on protests in two Libyan cities.

“The authorities should cease the use of lethal force unless absolutely necessary to protect lives and open an independent investigation into the lethal shootings,” HRW said in a statement.

The regime of Kadhafi, who has been in power since 1969, vied to counter the swelling opposition movement with its own pro-government rallies in the capital Tripoli and other cities.

But the unrest has deepened as the opposition mobilises via Facebook and mobile phone messages, emulating protest movements across North Africa and the Middle East that have already brought down the regimes in Egypt and Tunisia.

Geneva-based Human Rights Solidarity, citing witnesses, meanwhile said rooftop snipers in Read more…

Categories: age of rage, Libya Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

WikiLeaks Cables: Repression Has Effectively Limited Libyans’ Vision for Reform

February 17, 2011 Comments off

By Kevin Gosztola

opednews.com

Libyans are mobilizing for a “Day of Rage” today on February 17. Protesters in the early afternoon, according to a member of the Libyan Youth Movement, were reported to be moving to the Security Headquarters in Benghazi. The protests are said to be gaining numbers and are headed for Maydan al Shajara once more, a location that had been the site of gunfire and petrol bombs.

The same individual also reports shortages of medical supplies at Al Bayda hospital and urges international health organizations to help out. And the movement member shared reports of people in Benghazi managed to chase away “pro-government Gaddafi thugs” by throwing rocks at them.

Many in Libya believed ahead of the “Day of Rage” that the Gaddafi regime was planning to threaten Libyans with live fire and the targeting of family members if they participated in anti-government protests. Also, it was reported that Gaddafi was having government employees go protest at pro-Gaddafi rallies, and, if they refused, they would be fired.

Cables released on Libya provide context for the protests that are Read more…

Categories: age of rage, Libya, wikileaks Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Riot police storm square in Bahrain

February 17, 2011 Comments off
Bahraini demonstrators stand by a damaged car after they managed to escape a police attack in Manama, Bahrain, early Thursday morning.
Bahraini demonstrators stand by a damaged car after they managed to escape a police attack in Manama, Bahrain, early Thursday morning.

Hassan Ammar/AP

Jesse McLean Staff Reporter

MANAMA—Riot police stormed a square occupied by anti-government protesters Thursday, driving them out with tear gas and rubber bullets and destroying a makeshift encampment that had become the demonstrators’ rallying point.

At least two people were killed in the pre-dawn assault on Pearl Square, the main opposition group Al Wefaq said. There was no official word on deaths or injuries.

After riot police regained control of the plaza, they chased protesters through sidestreets just as the dawn call for prayers rang out.

Protesters described police swarming in through a cloud of tear gas.

“They attacked our tents, beating us with batons,” Jafar Jafar, 17, told Associated Press. “The police were Read more…

Categories: age of rage, Bahrain, Protests Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,