Libya: Gaddafi Calls on Libyans against NTC

Tripoli--Ousted Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi has called on his countrymen to come out in millions and stage defiance against the interim National Transitional Council (NTC) government which he said did not derive its legitimacy from the Libyan people.
“Be courageous, rise up, go out in the streets, in new million-man marches in all cities and villages and oases,” said Gaddafi. “Raise the green flag in the skies ... the conditions in Libya are unbearable.”

Gaddafi was quoted saying in a recorded audio message broadcast on the Syrian-based Al-Rai TV on Thursday, adding that leaders of the developing world who support the NTC that deposed him with aid of NATO would suffer similar fate.

“To those who recognize this council, be ready for the creation of transitional councils imposed by the power of fleets to replace you one by one from now on,” he said.

This is the first message by the fugitive leader in two weeks on the Al-Rai TV which has become the mouthpiece of his struggle since capture of the capital, Tripoli, in August. Gaddafi was publicly seen last in June and since then his whereabouts and those of his two prominent sons remain unknown.

Fighting in the city of Sirte continues, as NTC forces besieged the city, 400km southeast of Tripoli from their Benghazi stronghold in the east and Misrata in the west.

Heavy tank and artillery fighting ensued on Thursday as the two sides battled for the control of the city, Gaddafi’s birthplace and one of his two last strongholds. Loyalist fighters holed up in the city centre have staged fierce resistance with heavy sniper fire against advancing NTC forces.

Many residents are said to be in the city, trapped in the heavy fighting seen as the biggest assault in recent days after thousands others left with their belongings in past few days.

NATO which is mandated by a UN resolution to protect civilians in Libya has said it will continue its airstrike campaign as long as Gaddafi forces remained a threat to civilians.

New York, United States

UN Calls for Khartoum, Juba Troops Withdrawal from Abyei

The United Nations has called on Sudan and the newly independent South Sudan to withdraw their forces from the disputed oil-rich region of Abyei, to comply with the redeployment truce.

The newly appointed head of UN peacekeeping operations Hervé Ladsous told the UN Security Council on Thursday that the UN peacekeepers deployed in the region have observed no significant progress made by both sides under terms of the June 20th agreement to withdraw their armed forces from the area.

“The Sudan Armed Forces and the SPLM [Sudan People Liberation Movement] are present respectively in the north and south of the Kiir/Bahr al-Arab river," said Ladsous.

He said that the withdrawal was essential to facilitate the return of over 100,000 of the region’s displaced persons and build confidence among the two apprehensive sides. The deal signed in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa last month called for demilitarisation of the region and deployment of UN peacekeepers.

David Buom South Sudan’s envoy told the council that his country had fully complied with the accord and had redeployed its troops from Abyei to Warap State. He urged the council to set a deadline for Khartoum to withdraw its forces and hold whoever violates the deadline accountable.

Khartoum’s representative Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman said his government’s forces would pull out of Abyei when UN peacekeeping forces-UNIFSA have fully deployed the region to avoid a security vacuum.

About 1,800 of the 4000-strong Ethiopian troops have been deployed already in the disputed region.

Last week Khartoum said its troops will remain in the region until full contingent of the UNISFA force has been deployed in the region. South Sudan accuses the north of intending not to honour the agreement, and for also calling off a joint oversight committee meeting intended for Friday.

A vote on the fateful citizenship of the Abyei people scheduled along that of south’s secession in January 9 was suspended over voting rights of the region’s two varying communities.

South Sudan became the world’s newest state in July following January’s overwhelming vote in favour of the break away from the north.

Occupation of the region by the northern forces in May led to armed clashes between the two sides, raising fear of a renewed longstanding north-south conflict. Over 100,000 people have been displaced in the clashes fleeing mainly to South Sudan.