Libya: Fighting Intensifies in Sirte

Tripoli---Fighters loyal to Libya’s interim government backed by NATO warplanes have broken into the eastern outskirts of Col Muammar Gaddafi’s birthplace of Sirte, one of the last two strongholds held by the deposed leader.

Thuds of huge explosions were heard from the city as thick columns of black smoke rose up to the air on Monday, while the National Transitional Council (NTC) fighters battled Gaddafi’s forces near the city centre, in street-to-street heavy mortar fire.

This comes after the NTC forces besieged the city from the west, but retreated on Sunday to make way for NATO strikes. NATO failed to give an official statement on the Monday’s operation in Sirte but said its aircrafts had hit eight targets on Sunday including ammunition stores and rocket launchers.

NTC forces’ recent push for the last two Gaddafi’s bastions has been met with fierce resistance due to poorly coordinated attacks against the well trained and armed loyalists.

Taking Sirte along with Bani Walid further to the west would be a huge milestone for the NTC which is trying not to embarrass its western allies that have been instrumental in its installation.

Aid agencies have raised concern over civilian condition in the two besieged cities demanding access to the cities to provide humanitarian assistance to the trapped civilians. Residents fleeing Sirte, claim that many in the city want to leave but are being held back by the loyalists said to be using them as human shield.

Georges Comninos, head of Libya’s Red Cross said in a statement that they have received many appeals to help the wounded and the civilians generally. “We are very concerned about the people inside and near Bani Walid and Sirte,” he said “food reserves and medical supplies are reportedly running short in both cities.”

The provisional government on Sunday revealed reports of a mass grave in the capital, Tripoli, claimed to hold remains of more than 1,200 prisoners executed in the infamous Abu Salim jail in 1996. 

 Harare, Zimbabwe

Mugabe Wants Inclusion of Gaddafi Loyalists in New Libyan Government

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has called for negotiations between Libya’s provisional authorities and remnants loyalists of the ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi to be held.

While addressing reporters in Harare on Sunday, following his arrival from the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, Mugabe denounced African countries that have recognised Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC) legitimacy as “sellouts,” calling for more talks.

“We still want negotiations, inclusive negotiations between the NTC and the Gaddafi loyalists,” said Mugabe.

In New York while speaking at the 66th session of the UN General Assembly, Mugabe criticised NATO operation in Libya of pushing for regime change in the country, casting doubt on the “illegally imposed” NTC by foreign countries would help enhance democracy in the country.

He accused NATO of attacking Libya to “control its abundant oil resources”, terming the airstrike in support of the rebels as “blatant, illegal, and murderous bombings” that intentionally targeted Libyan towns.

NATO took charge to implement a UN resolution that sought to prevent civilians against attacks in Libya in February following an uprising demanding end of Col Gaddafi’s four decade rule, in what that started out as peaceful demonstrations.

Mugabe also criticised the International Criminal Court (ICC) for its “selective justice” over its tendency to focus on African countries had eroded the court’s credibility on the African continent.

Diplomatic officials in Zimbabwe earlier said that they would recognise the NTC if and when the African Union (AU) did so, but last week the AU said in a statement that it was recognising the NTC as the de facto representative of the Libyan people, as it works to establish democracy and help rebuild the country.

Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party has said it supports his position, but coalition counterpart Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party has bashed on Mugabe’s statement, saying it does not reflect the coalition government’s position. MDC said that “Zimbabwe does not recognise the NTC” is not a shared position, which they termed betrays the government in its inclusive nature.

Mugabe formed a power-sharing government with MDC’s leader Morgan Tsvangirai in September 2008 following a disputed presidential election earlier in the year. Since its formation the inclusive government has been rocked by wrangles over equal sharing of top posts. MDC has accused ZANU-PF of intimidating its members, as Mugabe blames Tsvangirai for being behind sanctions targeting him and his ZANU-PF cronies.