Obama keeps Libya sanctions in place for another year

US President Barack Obama

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/228305.html

US President Barack Obama has told Congress that the sanctions his administration imposed on Libya last year will be extended for another year, White House officials said.

Obama informed Congress on Thursday that the national emergency order allowing sanctions against Libya will continue, noting that Washington was concerned by ongoing threats posed to US interests by the family of Libya's slain dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

“The situation in Libya continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States,” Obama said in a letter to congressional leaders.

“We need to protect against this threat and the diversion of assets or other abuse by certain members of Gaddafi’s family and other former regime officials," he said.

"Therefore, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency with respect to Libya," he wrote.

Obama declared the national emergency over Libya on February 25, 2011, citing threats to US national security and foreign policy posed by Gaddafi and his government in their "extreme measures" against the people of Libya.

National emergency regulations authorize the US president to impose sanctions on foreign countries.

Sanctions imposed on overseas Libyan assets by the United Nations, the United States, and other nations have unwound slowly since Gaddafi’s death last year. However, releasing the assets is both politically and legally complicated, because the frozen funds include investments and property owned by private individuals.

British troops involved in Homs operation

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/225801.html

An intelligence report has revealed that British and Qatari troops are leading armed terror gangs in the Syrian city of Homs in their bloody battle against civilians and the Syrian army forces.

According to the Israeli website, debkafile, which is known for links to intelligence sources, “British and Qatari troops are directing rebel ammunition deliveries and tactics in the bloody battle for Homs”.

The report said that Britain’s foreign spying apparatus, MI6, has established four centers of operation in the city with the troops on the ground paving the way for an undercover Turkish military incursion into Syria.

The debkafile site said the presence of British and Qatari troops in Homs topped the agenda of Tuesday’s talks between President Assad government’s officials and head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service Mikhail Fradkov.

Qatar makes little secret of supporting the Syrian opposition with cash, arms and political support.

But, the British new adventurism in Syria comes as a parliamentary report has warned that the British government will face huge financial problems if the military resolve to launch a military campaign on the same scale as the operation in Libya.

In 2011 Britain and France became part of NATO-led operations targeting Gaddafi regime in Libya.

According to official reports, Britain spent about €254mln on the military campaign in Libya. However, a publication in The Guardian at the end of last year contends that the Libyan campaign cost British taxpayers 1.75 billion pounds. This exceeds the originally planned sum by nearly sevenfold.

Given the situation, the British MPs have warned the government of David Cameron that it will face “difficult decisions” if it chooses to engage in yet another campaign. Nearly two billion pounds spent over the six months of the campaign in Libya could be more than the military can handle

US deploys 12,000 troops in Libya

Smoke coming from an oil terminal in the Libyan port city of Brega. (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/222317.html

The United States has sent some 12,000 soldiers to Libya, in the first phase of deployments to the oil-rich North African nation.

According to Asharq Alawsat, the troops landed in the eastern oil port city of Brega.

Although the deployment is said to be aimed at generating stability and security in the region, the troops are expected to take control of the country's key oil fields and strategic ports.

Brega, the site of an important oil refinery, serves as a major export hub for Libyan oil. The town is also one of the five oil terminals in the eastern half of the country.

Following the popular uprising of the Libyan people, NATO launched a major air campaign against the forces of the former regime on March 19, 2011 under a UN mandate to “protect the Libyan population.”

The Western military alliance, however, was heavily criticized for its failure to protect civilians and taking action beyond the terms of the UN mandate.

On October 20, Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi was killed in his hometown of Sirte, eight months into an uprising that put an end to his 42-year dictatorship.

Human rights groups have accused NATO of committing war crimes and human rights violations against Libyans.

Libyan protesters storm local NTC HQ

People protest against the National Transitional Council and its chairman, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, in the city center of Benghazi, Libya, on December 16, 2011

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/222382.html

Angry protesters have stormed the local headquarters of Libya's ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) in the eastern coastal city of Benghazi after besieging the building for hours.

Witnesses said the incident occurred late on Saturday after wounded veteran revolutionary fighters held a demonstration outside the NTC's headquarters in Benghazi -- situated 651 kilometers (404 miles) east of the capital Tripoli -- and a group of them stormed the building.

Protesters, armed with stones and iron bars, ransacked the offices. Some people even hurled empty plastic bottles at NTC Chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil as he came out to calm down the crowd.

“Go away, go away," protesters chanted as Abdul Jalil spoke. Demonstrators also damaged a vehicle used by the NTC chairman.

A brigade of guards finally secured a passage, allowing Abdel Jalil and other NTC members to leave the building.

The incident happened two days after NTC Deputy Chairman Abdul Hafiz Ghoga was manhandled by university students in Benghazi.

Benghazi is the birthplace of the Libyan uprising, which ousted former dictator Muammar Gaddafi in August 2011.

Protesters have been holding regular demonstrations in Benghazi for several weeks, demanding the ouster of Gaddafi-era officials and more transparency about how the NTC is spending Libyan assets.

NATO rapped over 'war crimes' in Libya

A file image of a NATO airstrike on a residential area in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, in June 2011

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/221883.html

A new report by human rights groups in the Middle East has charged NATO with committing war crimes and human rights violations in Libya.

The report was published on Thursday by the Arab Organization for Human Rights, together with the Palestinian Center for Human Rights and the International Legal Assistance Consortium.

Following interviews with eyewitnesses and victims of the Libyan war and after examining areas bombarded by NATO fighter jets, the report states that the Western military alliance targeted a number of civilian areas instead of military sites, particularly in the city of Sirte, during its war in the North African country.

The development comes as NATO's Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen claimed in a recent statement that “NATO carried out this operation very carefully, without confirmed civilian casualties."

The independent report also implicates other warring factions and participants in the war, including forces loyal to former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi as well as the nation's revolutionary forces in its war crime charges.

Meanwhile, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Luis Moreno-Ocampo stated in November 2011 that an investigation would be carried out on the role of the NATO alliance as well as the two Libyan groups involved in the operations.

NATO launched a major air campaign against forces of the former Libyan regime on March 19, 2011 under a UN mandate to “protect the Libyan population.”

The Western military alliance, however, was heavily criticized for its failure to protect civilians and taking action beyond the terms of the UN mandate.

MESSAGE FROM MUAMMAR AL GADDAFI, SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

Source: Mathaba News
http://www.mathaba.net/news/?x=628579

Libyan Brother Leader Muammar Qaddafi Speech on September 8th, 2011

To our brave Libyan people that are resisting,

The land of Libya is your property and your right from the days of your grandfathers and great grandfathers.

Those that attempt to revoke it from you are foreign backed mercenaries, stray dogs, those foreigners that have resided in Libya for a long time, that attempt to take the land of your grandfathers away from you.

This is impossible. We will never leave the land of our grandfathers. Their families back then where spies for Italy, and now are spies for France and Britain. The same sons are following in the footsteps of their fathers and grandfathers, the steps of dishonor.

These rats and armed scum are examples of their grandfathers. Each one of them is a clone and a mock-up of traitor-ship. They are not Libyan.

Ask about any of those that are backed by NATO, that destroy Libyan infrastructure and kill Libyan children, and you will find that his grandfather and his dad where traitors. They carry the genes of traitors.

Do you think those who carry the genes of traitors from their grandparents and great grandparents are going to decide the fate of the Libyan people?

When they realize that the Libyan people have turned up the ratchet and have refused to accept them they revert to the dirty tricks of the villainous Arab TV channels and the gulf donkeys.

They ask them to come up with any lie to save them. They tell them we feel the earth tremble under our feet, and we feel the masses advance towards us, and that we will lose the ground that we have gained, please save us! with a lie or a rumor that will destroy the morale of the resistant Libyan people. That will destroy the morale of the sons of the Al-Fatah revolution.

They ask the villainous horns of lies to save them with a lie or two, a rumor here and there.

At the beginning they said he’s gone to Venezuela. It turned out to be a lie. Now they are fed up and they have said he has gone to Niger to destroy your morale and make you surrender.

This is an indication that they know that your morale and spirits are high.

The people in Tripoli are getting ready to destroy the rats and capture the mercenaries which are like a pack of weasels with no agreement among themselves. Their masters will abandon them soon, even their bomb supplies have been depleted nor do they have aircraft to fight with.

They think that NATO will stay forever in the skies. NATO will return defeated, whether it likes it or not, because its financial position does not allow it to continue with its air bombardments. They feel that they are on the battlefield alone.

They bring the horns of lies to rescue them by spreading rumors and lies such as Qaddafi has been injured, Qaddafi has fled, such and such has happened to Qaddafi. This means that they are facing a bottleneck and that their masters are going to desert them. That they will flip on one another.

The Libyan people in its “Million Man Marches” indicated its position to the world, these people are still alive. They have nothing to resort to now but psychological warfare to influence you. Do not be influenced by these psychological advertisements or lies. This should make you able to mock the weak enemy that is in front of you, a bunch of traitors and drunkards, a bunch of Islamists that have strayed from law and order that have no objective but to destroy the country.

They do nott even have a diplomatic or economic plan. They want to destroy the country. You saw what that the armed rebels did when they entered Tripoli. They looted it. They looted homes and stole the gold that belonged to the women.

Each individual ran back to his tribe with the stolen booty, laid down his weapons and claimed that he is victorious.

The Libyan people should not be silenced by such individuals. We should not leave our land to such menial cowards to steal the land of our grandfathers that are backed by the crusaders that are now looking back at their failed colonialist plot and are repeating their calculations. They will be left on the battlefield alone to resort to things that affect your morale the most.

The last thing from them was that we saw Qaddafi’s convey enter Niger. What nonsense. This is not the first time conveys have been seen in the area, from Mali, Chad and Algeria, entering and exiting the Sahara desert. It’s as if it is the first convey ever to enter Niger!

Be careful. Look to your homeland and stay determined against these lies and false propaganda.

Allahu Akbar to the front !

Britain wars all based on lies

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/197799.html

The British government has participated or launched three wars in the last decade, all of which have been started based on a bunch of lies.

The UK government under Tony Blair lied to its people, when it joined the so-called “coalition of willing” more than 10 years ago to launch an invasion against Afghanistan in the aftermath of the September 11th, 2001 attacks on US soil.

The Blair government unleashed a huge media campaign to persuade Britons that the Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorists were definitely behind the 9/11 attacks.

The then government of Britain also used, as a pretext, the ideology of the extremist Wahabis to fool the British into believing that if those radicals behind 9/11 attacks were not stopped they would definitely launch a similar attack on British soil.

Wahhabism itself is a product of a British conspiracy, perpetrated to be applied for their own sinister purposes to destroy Islam during the 18th century.

Now, more than a decade after the invasion, doubts are emerging one after another about the motives behind the campaign, and the UK politicians are leading so-called peace negotiations with the Taliban to pull themselves out of the quagmire their predecessors have created for them.

Again in March 2003, the Blair government lied about the executed dictator of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, when he claimed that “We had to launch an attack on Iraq because its regime possesses weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) that could be activated within 45 minutes,” and that wasn't true either.

In fact, the West wanted to topple a regime it had fully supported in the 1980s, when Saddam's regime imposed an eight-year war against Iran.

The then Western leaders including the British were not happy with the Iraqi dictator anymore and they used WMDs as a pretext to justify a military intervention to topple his regime.

The real motives behind the war had nothing to do with WMDs but was all about US control of Iraq's oil resources and to strengthen their presence in the Middle East.

However, US president George W. Bush and British Prime minister Tony Blair needed a more compelling reason to win public support for going to war.

Blair and his government lied to the British public in order to wage a war against Iraq. In his statement to the British parliament, Tony Blair told four lies as follow:

First, he lied when he said: “Iraq has chemical and biological weapons” and that, “Saddam has continued to produce them”.

Secondly, he lied when he asserted that Iraq could deploy chemical and biological weapons in 45 minutes.

“He [Saddam] has existing and active military plans for the use of chemical and biological weapons, which could be activated within 45 minutes”, Blair said.

Thirdly, the former Prime Minister lied when he said “Iraq had attempted to buy uranium from Niger in Africa in order to produce a nuclear warhead”.

“In addition, we know Saddam has been trying to buy significant quantities of uranium from Africa”, Blair said.

And the forth lie was that Tony Blair did not say the intelligence assessment was that Iraq would only use chemical or biological weapons if attacked.

The current UK government and its allies unleashed a bombing campaign against crisis-hit Libya to enforce a UN Security Council resolution, which called for a no-fly zone over the North African country to protest its civilian population from being killed at the hands of its long-time dictator Muammar Qaddafi.

But, the UN mandate turned out to be a pre-planned plot to overthrow the regime of Gaddafi on the back of a popular uprising fuelled by discontent inside the country.

Now that the Gaddafi regime has been toppled, Britain and other western powers have unveiled bids to secure a slice of the oil prize in Libya with France saying it was "fair and logical" for preference to be given to those who first helped the revolutionaries.

Actually, British Prime Minister David Cameron lied to the British people, when he told the parliament that his government was attacking Libya out of humanitarian concerns.

The Libya invasion was a pre-written scenario to enforce regime change and to control the impoverished country's vast oil resources on the one hand, and, on the other hand, to steer the domestic political agenda in order to decieve the British public into believing that their government was acting as an international player.

But, the world's public opinion in general would never ever again accept the so-called Western humanitarian concerns as a good excuse for supporting evil objectives behind military interventions elsewhere around the globe.

Libyan revolutionary leader to sue Britain

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/197521.html

A Libyan revolutionary leader has demanded an apology from the British officials as he announced plans to sue the government realizing Britain's role in his rendition.

Abdel Hakim Belhadj (also known as Abdullah al-Sadiq), the military commander who led the revolutionary forces into the Libyan capital Tripoli, was detained by the US's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Malaysia in 2004 over the suspicions of having links to Al-Qaeda.

The American forces transferred Belhadj to Thailand for interrogation. Nonetheless, after the interrogation, they rendered Belhadj to Libya delivering him to Gaddafi, apparently, in exchange for information which Gaddafi's agents had given to them.

Gaddafi regime sent Belhadj to its notorious Abu Salim prison where he was tortured and imprisoned for seven years.

Secret documents found by emergencies director for Human Rights Watch, Peter Bouckaert, revealed Britain's complicity in the rendition plot that delivered Belhadj to Gaddafi.

Bouckaert discovered a memo entitled “for the urgent personal attention of Musa Kusa” in an office used by Libya's former head of external security, Musa Kusa. The memo was dated March 18, 2004 with the address being “London SE1.”

Belhadj, the head of Tripoli's military council who commands about 8000 revolutionary forces in Libya, has asserted that the British government betrayed him when he sought asylum through the British High Commission in Malaysia in 2004.

“His suffering is very difficult to forget and he deserves a clear apology from the US and UK ... He may one day take legal action,” said a spokesman for Belhadj.

The revelations come as leaked documents revealed the British government's close relationship with Gaddafi's regime to the extent that Britain provided the regime with information about anti-Gaddafi activists living in the UK.

As the coalition government officials try to distance themselves from the revelations, some political analysts have broached the fact that the intelligence and Foreign Office staff are still in post, therefore the government should respond to the allegations.

NATO: Libya mission to continue

A US fighter jet takes off at the Aviano NATO airbase, in Aviano, Italy. (File photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/196994.html

Western leaders have agreed to continue the military mission in Libya "as long as necessary," NATO's secretary general says.

"We have announced that operations will continue as long as necessary, as long as there is a threat to civilians," Anders Fogh Rasmussen said after talks in Paris between Libyan interim leaders and the international community.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron whose governments led the military campaign in the North African country, stressed their warplanes would continue operations in Libya.

"NATO and our allies will continue our operations to implement UN resolutions ... as long as we are needed to protect civilian life," Cameron said, at a joint press conference with Sarkozy and Libya's interim leaders.

UN Resolution 1973 authorized a no-fly zone over Libya, permitting all necessary measures to protect civilians against Gaddafi forces.

The Western military alliance has carried out 21,090 sorties, including 7,920 strike sorties on targets claimed to be of military nature.

However, hundreds of Libyan civilians have reportedly lost their lives since NATO took command of airstrikes on March 31.

NATO airstrikes have also severely damaged Libya's infrastructure.

UK to send team to secure Libya oil deals

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/196891.html

After imposing the war for oil in Libya, the British government is to send a team of negotiators to Tripoli to make sure that UK firms do not lose out to Russian and Chinese companies over oil contracts with the new Libyan government.

The government department responsible for the promotion of the country's business revealed that its team of trade officials will go to the Libyan capital “very soon” in order to begin talks with the new ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) and to sign lucrative oil deals.

Senior Whitehall officials confirmed the news, insisting that British Trade and Investment is planning to renew its oil contracts in Libya quickly, amid rising fears that Russian and Chinese oil firms are seeking to secure the best of the contracts.

“British oil companies have been major players in Libya and I'm sure that they will want to get back in there,” a Whitehall source said.

UK Trade & Investment's spokesman earlier disclosed that the government is planning to win the lucrative deals in Libya's oil market. Saying: “As soon as the situation on the ground allows, UKTI has plans to provide in-country support and advice to companies wishing to be part of the reconstruction effort.”

Libya is a country possessing a tremendous amount of oil, which is sweet crude. Right before the Western powers launched their air strikes back in March, the oil-rich country produced around 1.6 million barrels per day. It was the world's seventeenth-largest oil producer and the third largest in Africa. However, after six months of war, Libya's oil production has been reduced to just 100,000 barrels per day.

While Russia and China declined to support the NATO military operation in Libya to oust Muammar Gaddafi, they are now fighting to land profitable energy and construction contracts with Libya.

The Russian Africa envoy, Mikhail Margelov, revealed that the Russian government who had signed energy and infrastructure deals worth billions with Gaddafi's regime, would not miss out. “We intend to uphold Russian economic and other interests in Libya,” he said.

'British forces in Libya to hunt Gaddafi'

British soldiers (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/196818.html

Britain's Special Air Service (SAS) officers are in Libya to search for the fugitive ruler Muammar Gaddafi as his son, Seif al-Islam pledges to continue fighting, a report says.

Large numbers of SAS officers have arrived at Libyan coasts to start hunting for Gaddafi and his network of supporters, sources in Libya told Britain's ITV News on Wednesday.

A smaller group of British special forces have launched their operations from the eastern city of Benghazi, the report said.

Britain's Ministry of Defense has refused to confirm the report, saying the government is not willing to comment on operations carried out by special forces.

Since NATO launched its air campaign in Libya, Britain has conducted secret operations in the North African country to cut off the regime from its vital resources, British media said.

British government has set up "Libya Oil Cell" to cut the Gaddafi regime access to fuel and make sure revolutionary fighters in eastern Libya can get the reserves.

A British Royal Air Forces plane on Wednesday flew nearly 280 million Libyan dinars ($212 million) to Libya to be distributed to banks to enable them to pay the public sector workers who have not received their salaries during the six months of conflict in the country.

Britain's move comes a day after the UN gave permission to the European country to release some of the frozen assets of the Libyan fugitive ruler.

Gaddafi sons send mixed signals

Seif al-Islam Gaddafi

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/196807.html

Two of the sons of Libyan fugitive ruler Muammar Gaddafi have given contradictory messages, one vowing to fight defiantly while the other negotiating his surrender.

Seif al-Islam Gaddafi said on Wednesday that the fight against revolutionary forces still continues and “victory is near.”

“I am talking to you from a suburb of Tripoli. We want to reassure the Libyan people that we are still here. The resistance continues and victory is near,” Seif al-Islam said.

He made the remarks in an audio tape on the Damascus-based Al-Rai television station, AFP reported.

Gaddafi's son urged the Libyan people to fight against the “enemy.”

Gaddafi's other son, Saadi, has reportedly held negotiations with officials from the Transitional National Council about his surrender after he told an Arabic television that he had no problems with revolutionary forces if they take over power.

The TNC said they would provide security for Saadi if he surrenders.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said on Wednesday that Gaddafi is hiding somewhere in the desert, ruling out speculations that the fugitive ruler has fled to neighboring Algeria with his family members.

Gaddafi's wife Safiya, his daughter Aisha, and his sons Hannibal and Mohammed, entered Algeria on Monday morning through the Algerian-Libyan border.

UK, France deploy ground troops to Libya

Source: Press TV

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/196546.html

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has confirmed that some of its member countries such as Britain and France may have troops deployed to Libya.

An unnamed NATO official admitted that Britain and France have deployed ground troops inside the Libyan territory, but said it would be "unfair to call them NATO forces."

Meanwhile, the Russian ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, said there is "direct evidence" that British and French Special Forces were carrying out ground operations in Libya in violation of UN Security Council resolution 1973.

The resolution, passed in March, authorized a no-fly zone over Libya to protect civilians.

NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said last week the alliance had no troops on the ground in Libya, and would not have any after the regime fell.

"The leading role in the post-Gaddafi period in supporting the Libyan people rests with the United Nations and the Contact Group. NATO will be in a supporting role… NATO will have no troops on the ground," Lungescu told reporters in Brussels.

British Defense Secretary Liam Fox told Sky News last week that the [revolutionary forces] were getting intelligence and reconnaissance assistance from NATO.

Last week, Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper claimed that Britain's elite Special Air Service regiment (SAS) were helping the [revolutionary forces] hunt down Col Muammar Gaddafi, whose forces have lost control of most of the country including the capital Tripoli.

Gaddafi's whereabouts remain unknown, though the transitional government says he is still in hiding in Tripoli.

The [revolutionary forces], who seized Tripoli a week ago, have offered a USD1.3 million reward and amnesty from prosecution for anyone who kills or captures Gaddafi.

UK soldiers on Libyan soil

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/195838.html

The British government has taken another step to violate the UN resolution, as its Special Forces are revealed to be on the ground in Libya to hunt for fugitive Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi.

According to the Daily Telegraph, soldiers from 22 SAS Regiment started leading Libyan opposition fighters after being ordered in by Prime Minister David Cameron.

Defense sources admitted that SAS soldiers have been in Libya for several weeks. Adding they had been sent to the country to direct air strikes on major military targets and have been ordered to aid Libyan opposition forces on the ground to find Gaddafi.

As a £1 million bounty was proposed on Gaddafi's head, the British soldiers, who dressed in Arab citizen clothes and holding revolutionary forces weapons, have been ordered to look for Libya's falling dictator.

Defense Secretary Liam Fox declined to comment on the presence of UK soldiers on the ground in Libya, claiming only British military advisers are now in Libya, aiding the fighters with "communications, logistics, the chain of command and so on.”

“NATO is providing intelligence and reconnaissance assets to help in the hunt for Gaddafi and the remnants of the regime,” he added.

The head of the National Transitional Council (NTC) Mustafa Abdel Jalil insisted they wanted Gaddafi “dead or alive,” adding the council would provide amnesty for members of Gaddafi's close circle who kill or capture the ruler.

"Businessmen in Benghazi have set-up an award of two million Libyan dinars for anyone who captures Gaddafi and from another hand, the National Transitional Council announces that anyone from his inner circle who kills Gaddafi or captures him, shall receive amnesty from the community," Jalil said.

“We know Gaddafi's regime is not over yet. The end will only come when he's captured, dead or alive. Gaddafi's forces and his accomplices will not stop resisting until Gaddafi is caught or killed,” he added.

Western governments including Britain, France, and the US began bombing "military targets" over Libya on March 19, after the UN Security Council approved a resolution on March 17, authorizing force by whatever means necessary, with the exception of a ground invasion, to "protect civilians."

Since March 31, when the US-led Western military alliance took over command of the air strikes on a UN mandate, its warplanes have carried out around 11,644 sorties over the country.

China wants UN to lead efforts in Libya

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/195563.html

China has called on the United Nations to lead international post-war efforts in Libya to quickly restore stability in the North African country.

In a telephone conversation with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi urged him to play a leading role and work with other regional organizations to restore order in Libya, Xinhua reported.

He noted that the Libyan situation has entered a critical phase following months of deadly violence.

Yang said that the Chinese government is ready to work with the broader international community to re-establish calm and order in conflict-stricken Libya.

Ban, for his part, said effective efforts will be made to guarantee the safety of foreign diplomatic missions and other foreign nationals in Libya.

Libya has been the scene of intense fighting between regime troops and fighters since a revolution movement seeking to topple Gaddafi began in mid-February.

The fighters advanced into the heart of Tripoli early Monday, seizing control of much of the capital without facing significant resistance from regime forces. They are now facing only small pockets of resistance from Gaddafi's loyalists in other areas.

The whereabouts of the elusive 68-year-old Libyan dictator and his family remain unknown.

UK to exploit Libya's resources

Source: press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/195499.html

Britain's government has decided to take control of Libyan oil facilities as British Petroleum announced plans to resume operations in oil-rich North African country.

As Libyan opposition fighters take control of more and more areas in the capital Tripoli, the world's superpowers are trying to gain hegemony over the African country by securing lucrative contracts under the pretext of rebuilding Libya so that the country's economy would become dependent upon hegemonic powers.

Before the beginning of revolution in Libya in February, the oil-rich country produced around 1.6 million barrels per day. Libya was the seventeenth-largest oil producer in the world and the third largest in Africa.

After six months of war, however, the country's oil output has been reduced to just 100,000 barrels per day.

As experts predict that the North African country's oil output could reach 1 million barrels per day within a few months, British Petroleum, has announced plans to return to Libya as “soon as conditions allow.”

Meanwhile, a spokesman for UK Trade & Investment which is a part of Department of Business, announced that the British government plans to secure a major share in Libya's market seeking to win profitable contracts.

“We are in regular contact with companies and organizations who have business interests in Libya and have been throughout the conflict. As soon as the situation on the ground allows, UKTI has plans to provide in-country support and advice to companies wishing to be part of the reconstruction effort,” he said.

Moreover, Director Government Support at Control Risks Chris Sanderson, an international risk consultancy and security management company, said that there is an unprecedented “opportunity for UK business to seek to recover commercially some measure of the UK's significant diplomatic and military investment.”

He explained that there are opportunities for the British businesses on three grounds. First, Libya's need to rebuild infrastructure provides British companies with numerous profitable contracts. Second, British business can operate in fields like “health, education and civil security.” Finally, British companies can exploit Libya's oil and gas sectors as well as “commercial support services such as banking, finance and telecommunications

Chavez warns of tragedy in Libya

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/195625.html

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has warned of a tragedy in Libya as a new era is set to begin due to the fall of the Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi's regime.

"The drama of Libya isn't ending with the fall of Gaddafi's government. It's beginning," AP quoted Chavez as saying on Wednesday.

He also condemned Western powers for the airstrikes NATO had conducted, adding that all “the Yankee empire and European powers” want is Libya's oil.

"They've destroyed a country and they continue destroying it. How many Libyan children have died?” Chavez said.

Furthermore, he denounced the USD 1.6 million bounty on Gaddafi offered by Libyan businessmen, calling it a “madness let loose.”

Libya has been the scene of intense fighting between government troops and revolutionary forces since a revolution seeking to topple Gaddafi began in mid-February.

NATO airstrikes have claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians since March.

NATO began bombing "military targets" in Libya on March 19, after the UN Security Council approved a resolution on March 17, authorizing force by whatever means necessary, with the exception of a ground invasion, to "protect civilians."

Since March 31, when the US-led Western military alliance took over command of the airstrikes on a UN mandate, its warplanes have carried out around 11,644 sorties over the country.

‘Death or victory!’ – Gaddafi addresses the nation

Source: Russia Today

http://rt.com/news/death-victory-gaddafi-address-795-11-011/

Colonel Gaddafi has addressed his nation to say the battle with “aggressors” will last “until the end”. Meanwhile, the rebels’ assault on the Tripoli compound brought no visible results and shelling goes on in Libyan towns.

Muammar Gaddafi said leaving his compound was a tactical move.

Colonel has addressed the nation via Libyan radio, declaring that “in the fight against aggressors there is only death or victory.”

He said that the Bab Al-Aziziya compound no longer exists. It was totally destroyed by 64 NATO air strikes.

As of now, the leader and his family are nowhere to be found.

Gaddafi spokesperson, Moussa Ibrahim, speaking on Libyan television from an undisclosed location, warned the battle for Libya will turn the country into a volcano, lava and fire. He stressed that the country’s government can resist the attacks for months or even years.

“Libya will become a volcano,” he promised. He condemned the rebels and claimed that 12,000 tribesmen were converging on Tripoli to fight.

Dubai-based al-Arabiya TV says that the capital is being pounded by Gaddafi forces’ Grad missiles and mortars. Reuters also reports pro-Gaddafi forces attacking the town of Ajelat, west of Tripoli, with missiles and tanks.

Rebels overran the fortified compound of the Libyan leader in Bab al-Azizya in Tripoli following intense fighting with pro-Gaddafi forces and heavy shelling by NATO jets late on Tuesday. Rebels claimed also they gained control of much of the capital, but Gaddafi's whereabouts were still unknown.

Meanwhile the National Transitional Council reports that 400 people have been killed and more than 2,000 injured over the last three days of fighting. Alternative reports claim that more than 1,000 people have died in the violence and NATO air strikes.

Don DeBar, an anti-war activist and journalist, believes that whatever Colonel Gaddafi or the rebel leaders say, it is practically impossible to verify what is true or false at this point.

“But certainly what has been coming from the Western media has been proven to be lies,” he declared. “Gaddafi opened up the armories to the people of Libya, more than a million rifles and other arms have been handed out to the people of Tripoli. The claim that has been made by the so-called ‘progressive’ media of the United States is that Gaddafi is a hated dictator and that this is an indigenous rebellion. The dictator does not hand people guns and say: ‘Please, defend me!’”

US after Libya' oil: American legislator

Libyan fighters pray in front of an anti-aircraft gun near an oil refinery in Ras Lanuf, March 8, 2011

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/195463.html

US Congressman Dennis Kucinich has blamed the Obama administration for pursuing control over Libya's vast oil reserves by participating in a military campaign in the North African country.

"Was the United States, through participation in the overthrow of the [Libyan] regime, furthering the aims of international oil corporations in pursuit of control over one of the world's largest oil resources?" Kucinich said in a statement on his website on Tuesday.

"Did the United States at the inception of the war against Libya align itself with elements of al-Qaeda, while elsewhere continuing to use the threat of al-Qaeda as a reason for US military intervention, presence and occupation?" he added.

Kucinich pointed out that the five-month-old military intervention in Libya sets a dangerous precedent for unilateral attacks on sovereign nations.

He also urged the International Criminal Court to investigate potential war crimes by military leaders on all sides of the conflict.

"Resources which should be spent creating jobs in America are going to perpetuate war abroad," Kucinich said, adding, "Resources which should be used to build bridges in America continue to be used to bomb bridges elsewhere."

In March, Kucinich suggested President Barack Obama's authorizing of airstrikes on Libya were "an impeachable offense" and sponsored a July measure to defund the military effort in the North African state.

Libya has been the scene of intense fighting between regime troops and fighters since a revolution seeking to topple Gaddafi began in mid-February.

NATO has conducted thousands of airstrikes over Libya since March to implement a UN Security Council resolution that called for “the protection of civilians.”

However, scores of civilians have been killed during the NATO airstrikes.

Stop NATO's gangsterism: US lawmaker

US Democratic Representative Dennis KucinichSource: Press TV

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/195428.html

A US lawmaker says NATO chiefs must be held responsible under the international law for the deaths of Libyan civilians to avoid the victory of a 'new international gangsterism.'

"If members of the Gaddafi regime are to be held accountable, NATO's top commanders must also be held accountable through the International Criminal Court for all civilian deaths resulting from bombing," Democratic Representative Dennis Kucinich was quoted by AFP as saying on Tuesday.

Kucinich denounced NATO for exceeding the UN Security Council resolution which mandated a no-fly zone over Libya to protect civilians, stating that the real aim of attacks were “regime change.”

If NATO commanders do not stand justice, we will see the victory of “a new international gangsterism,” the lawmaker said.

Kucinich has expressed opposition to the involvement of NATO and the United States in the Libya conflict.

UN Security Council members including Russia, China, Brazil, India and South Africa have also criticized the Western military alliance, saying NATO has gone beyond the UN mandate.

Colonel Roland Lavoie, a NATO spokesman for Libya's Operation Unified Protector said on Tuesday that the alliance will continue to carry out its bombing campaign to the end of the ongoing conflict in the North African country.

"We will take out and strike at targets if they pose a threat to the civilian population," Lavoie said at a news conference in Naples, Italy.

Since NATO took command of airstrikes on March 31, its warplanes have carried out 19,994 sorties including 7,541 strike sorties, a Reuters report published on August 23 said.