Libya Riots -Gaddafi Falls

[The_root_of_all_evil]

[HEADING=2]Sic Transit Gaddafi[/HEADING]

42 years as the Dictator of Libya, and tonight Gaddafi falls.

Will update this as fast as I can. Stay tuned.

Edit1: The country has been in turmoil for years, decades even.
The Arabist has even tweeted "The worst Arab dictator since Saddam Hussein falls tonight. Wow."

Saif Al-Islam, Colonel Gaddafi's son has already been captured by the Libyan rebels, and they are pushing forward to take control of the country.

The army appear to be offering them no resistance, and they're advancing on the Presidential Palace as we speak.

Edit2: Most of the coverage that's coming through is due to Sky's Alex Crawford - who seems to be the new Kate Adie - and could you withstand being there?

[updated: This one's todays]

Edit3: Spokesman for Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's regime, Moussa Ibrahim, seems to be on the losing side. He said in a statement that the rebels were nothing without NATO and they would never be able to take Libya.

"Tripoli is well protected and we have thousands upon thousands of professional soldiers ready to defend this city against any possible invasion by rebels under the cover of NATO."

He added: "What is happening now and what is going to happen is not the power of the rebels.

"It is the power of NATO - a major force for evil that has no heart, using armed gangs to occupy a whole nation."

Sorry dude, they're knocking on your door now.

Edit4: As has been said, Gaddafi hasn't been captured, but one of his son's has been captured and the other, Khamis, was in charge of the base 16 miles west of the capital - the rebels almost walked over it on their way in.

Assadah, 65 miles south of Tripoli (the capital) is also showing signs of a gun battle with the Rebels. Next edit, I'll put in a rough history/timeline.


Edit5: Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was put in power back in 1969; the older among you may remember his numerous run-in's with Thatcher/Reagan between 1979 and 2006 - as Libya were the original Arabic terrorist threat - way before Iraq got on the scene.

1986 saw Libya being bombed by the US, and 1993 saw the UN declare trade sanctions against the country.

Early February this year, there were major political protests (like in Egypt) which escalated into a civil war. Gaddafi himself promised to "die a martyr", but it hasn't stopped the rebels claiming most of the east of the country.

On 27 June 2011 the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Gaddafi for crimes against humanity.

20th August, the Rebels reached Tripoli and there's numerous reports of him being shot already, but I can't confirm any of them. I think it's unlikely, but it's hard to get direct proof.

Edit6: You may also remember him from such spectacles as the Lockerbie Bombing, the Berlin Bombing, helping the IRA or UTA Flight 772.

Just in case there's any doubt over this guy, as he did condemn 9/11, this is one of the human rights cases he was charged with

Among the crimes being investigated by the prosecution is whether Gaddafi purchased and authorized the use of Viagra-like drugs among soldiers for the purpose of raping women and instilling fear

edit 7: Tidying, Spell-checking and confirmed sighting of Gaddafi alive. He's calling on people not to riot. Too little...

edit 8: Downing Street has said "He has committed appalling crimes against the people of Libya and he must go now to avoid any further suffering for his own people." from their nice safe London road.

 

[IronicBeet]

Hold on, what? I haven't really been keeping up with the Libya situation, has it really made this much progress?

 

[steevee]

The rebels have rolled into Tripoli and seem to be meeting no resistance, as the security forces are laying down their arms in large numbers.

However, claims that Gadaffi has been shot dead should be treated with caution as there is no confirmation to be had.

 

[the spud]

I haven't really been folllowing the situation so I don't know whether or not I should be happy or sad:/

 

[oooooooooooooooooooooooooo]

I haven't really been folllowing the situation so I don't know whether or not I should be happy or sad:/

If Gaddafi has really been killed or defeated, then being happy would probably be the appropriate response

 

[baconbaby299]

Well good for the rebels. As long as its the rebels victory and no-one else's it's most likely a good thing.

 

[Nouw]

It's a trap!

That aside, this is good news for Libya I guess.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

More background detail

Libya was a police state under the control of Colonel Gaddafi. However, the opposition in the east of the country has now been formally recognised by the US, Britain and the Libya "contact group" of nations. After an initial push the rebel movement has made small gains and is still strong in the mountains. It seems there is no way Col Gaddafi can win back the east. He has become internationally isolated, but still retains power in the capital Tripoli and is refusing to leave power or indeed the country. Both he and his son, Saif al Islam, and the regime?s ex-intelligence chief face charges of crimes against humanity ? which make it difficult for them to contemplate leaving the country.

The European, Tunisian and Egyptian fears that an uprising in Libya would result in a wave of displaced people pouring across their borders did partially come true. So did the fears of a collapse in oil production, leading to complications in Europe's energy needs, especially in Italy.

Latest: The Rebels reached Green Square (Centre Tripoli) but have turned back. Not exactly sure why. They may want to hand Gaddafi over to the UN for war-crimes.

Edit: Ah, could be because of the thousand of armed followers within a kilometre of the Palace. Probably not just being nice then.

 

[StANDY1338]

At least they offered free passage to him. Thats nice I suppose.

 

[Nimcha]

Let's hope the people don't misuse their newfound freedom for plundering and all around chaos.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Gaddafi has appeared to make two speeches:

How can you let Tripoli, which was beautiful and safe, how can you allow for it to be destroyed and set alight? This should not happen. This must not happen.

All of these tribes, all must march to Tripoli now to to defend it and to purify it, otherwise you will have no worth whatsoever. You will become slaves and servants in the hands of the imperialists and British imperialism will return once again.

All the men and women (in different parts of the country) must come out in order to prevent the traitors and agents entering Tripoli and they must chase them and kick them out, otherwise we will be in the hands of the imperialists.

All of the tribes are now marching towards Tripoli because they have heeded the call. There's no place for the agents of imperialism, not in Tripoli, nowhere in Libya, not in front of these huge masses that are marching towards Tripoli right now. Nato will not help you.

Beautiful Tripoli, they will make it into a destroyed city. The imams of the mosques, you must leave now and march. Go out with your weapons. All of you. There should be no fear.

Mistake on my part: I said earlier there were two sons, there's actually three. Saif al-Islam and Al-Saadi have been captured, Muhammed gave himself up. The Rebels have said they will be treated well under the Geneva Convention.

The attack on Green Square is also being reported as Operation Mermaid Dawn. Make your own quips.

 

[Doclector]

It seems this literally mad dictator may finally be getting his comeuppance. Let's just hope for as little collateral damage as possible.

Oh, and let's hope they don't pull any statues down. That could be a bad omen.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

NATO have responded

The sooner Gaddafi realises that he cannot win the battle against his own people, the better ? so that the Libyan people can be spared further bloodshed and suffering. The Libyan people have suffered tremendously under Gaddafi's rule for over four decades. Now they have a chance for a new beginning. Now is the time for all threats against civilians to stop, as the United Nations Security Council demanded. Now is the time to create a new Libya ? a state based on freedom, not fear; democracy, not dictatorship; the will of the many, not the whims of a few.

The citizens seem behind the rebels all the way, but the evil Empire still have hundreds of stormtroopers...hold on...do you ever get that feeling that life and fiction overlap?

 

[Hero in a half shell]

Hmm, It seems that all the government sources have pulled back to surround and protect the weirdly-clothed-megalomaniac.

There may yet be a lot of bloodshed, and just because Gaddafi's gone doesn't mean everything's peachy in the country, but it's a really good start.

 

[omega 616]

Maybe the UK can get in on this action "a state based on freedom, not fear; democracy, not dictatorship; the will of the many, not the whims of a few." I wouldn't mind some of that!

I wonder if it will cause other (if there are any) countries to rise up and crush there dictatorship and I don't mean like the joke I made above, I mean serious dictators.

 

[Kryzantine]

Riots? Libya is about the definition of a revolution, and we're calling it riots?

Anyway, it was fairly obvious from the start that Qaddafi was gone. He doesn't have a real base among Libyans, the only reason he lasted this long was because he was hiring mercenaries left and right. The fact of the matter is, there aren't many people in the Libyan army that want to shoot fellow countrymen. The problem was really eliminating the core contingent that actually didn't mind shooting up other Libyans. That seems to be the case going on ATM, what with loyalists making their last stand at the palace. I wouldn't be surprised to see a siege lasting a day or 2, and to be honest, I don't see Qaddafi getting out alive. It's more about him and his craziness than anything the rebels can do.

This reminds me of Liberia in 1990, actually, the military situation, obviously not the political one.

 

[Sizzle Montyjing]

Among the crimes being investigated by the prosecution is whether Gaddafi purchased and authorized the use of Viagra-like drugs

I know people are going to hate me for this, but all i read in this particular snippet as was 'Gaddafi gives troops boners'.
I know, i'm a terrible person for making light of it, but the comedian inside of me was dying to make a joke there.

Anyway this is amazing, Fuck Gaddafi! Hope they don't go the way of some other countries and revert to old or worse ways.
They need small help from international powers to deal with this in my opinion, setting up new governments is really quite hard, and often ends with yet more dictatorship.

 

[HerbertTheHamster]

He's probably just going to get replaced by another dictatorship, probably a muslim one.

yay democracy

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Riots? Libya is about the definition of a revolution, and we're calling it riots?

Riots as in the verb, not the noun

They need small help from international powers to deal with this in my opinion, setting up new governments is really quite hard, and often ends with yet more dictatorship.

According to Al Jazeera, two African countries, Zimbabwe and Angola (known for their 'democracy') maybe attempting to give Gaddafi asylum.

I'm sure there will be more breaking, but I need some sleep now.

 

[MASTACHIEFPWN]

Well, Egypt got crap done a lot faster...
But then again, didn't Egypt's military hate their ruler as well?