Turkey Recognises Libyan Rebels

Tripoli, Libya

Turkey has officially recognised Libyan rebels and pledged a further $200million in aid to the Transitional National Council (TNC) fighting to end long spanning leader Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters on Sunday at a press conference in Benghazi that his country now officially recognises the TNC as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people.

 “Public demand for reforms should be answered, Gaddafi should go and Libya shouldn't be divided… We see the Transitional National Council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people to achieve their goals,” said Davutoglu.

He was speaking after meeting with the opposition leaders in the rebel stronghold during his one-day visit to Libya where he said the Turkish government will provide an additional $200 million to the $100 million in aid to the TNC pledged in June.

He said there should be a permanent solution to the crisis which could be possible only through a political solution based on demands of the people.

Turkey, a member of NATO had maintained ties with Col Gaddafi’s government and was in opposition to the military alliance’s operation in support of the rebels but now has shifted away from the besieged leader’s side.

NATO launched its airstrike in March to implement a UN resolution that sought to protect Libyan civilians against attack from pro-Gaddafi forces.

On the same day, the rebels rejected an African Union (AU) offer to sponsor talks between them and the Gaddafi government owing to lack of departure of the leader from power. The offer was made during an AU summit in Equatorial Guinea last week that sought to end the conflict.

Abdel Hafiz Ghoga rebel spokesman said: “We have rejected it. It did not include the departure of Gaddafi, his sons and his inner circle.”

The TNC chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil has expressed that Gaddafi would be let to live in the countrAy under international supervision as long as he gave up power.

“As a peaceful solution, we offered that he can resign and order his soldiers to withdraw from their barracks and positions, and then he can decide either to stay in Libya or abroad,” said Jahil.

But the revolt’s spokesman Ghoza has denied the idea by the rebel chief saying that the idea was an expression of his personal view which was not part of the negotiations.

The AU had suggested a roadmap that would call for an immediate ceasefire and a transition to democratic elections.

South African President Jacob Zuma who is the mediator of the Libyan crisis will visit Russia where he is expected to meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen to come up with a solution to the Libyan crisis.

Russia which had abstained from the UN Security Council vote has been criticising at length the NATO operation in Libya saying it had gone beyond the UN Mandate.

Abuja, Nigeria

Ten Die in Militant Attack in Maiduguri

At least ten people have been reported killed in series of attacks allegedly by Islamist militants in northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri, according to military officials.

Five people were killed on Sunday when a bomb exploded at a bar frequented by soldiers and policemen in the middle of a market near the police barracks in Wulari area. Also gunmen shot four people on Saturday and one person on Sunday during attacks largely blamed on the outlawed Boko Haram Islamic sect.

Military commander Gen Jack Nwaogbo head of a joint police and military taskforce said that the bomb attack was conducted at around 1630 GMT.

“Sunday's bomb blast ripped through a bar at a "mamy market" attached to a police barracks in Wulari area of Maiduguri, said Gen Nwaogbo.

This is part of the recent wave of attacks in northeastern Nigeria by Boko Haram mainly targeting the police, seeking imposition of Islamic laws in the region which is predominantly Islamic.

Last Sunday at least 25 people were killed and several others wounded in a similar blast in the town targeting an outdoor bar weeks after the sect had carried out a bomb attack on police headquarters in Abuja.

 A joint police and military taskforce has been sent to Maiduguri to reinforce security in the area.

Senior police officer in the region told the AFP news agency that the victim shot by gunmen riding on a motorbike on that day was identified as the head of a local government council.

The other victims are said to have been shot in their homes by gunmen whom the officer said were obviously members of the Boko Haram.

Despite of a brutal suppression from the government that seemed to destroy its network, the group which has been claimed to be having external funding and training has regrouped and has become fierce in its recent attacks.

The group whose trademark is use of gunmen on motorbikes has vowed to continue with its course if its demands are not met.

Several of its followers were killed in 2009 during clashes with the security forces in its Maiduguri strong-hold leading to arrest of its leader Mohammed Yusuf who later died in police custody.