World

Anti-Gadhafi Protests Erupt in Tripoli as Libyan Rebels Advance on Capital

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Large anti-regime protests erupted Sunday in several Tripoli neighborhoods where thousands braved the bullets of snipers perched atop high buildings, residents and opposition fighters said. At the same time, hundreds of rebel forces advanced to within 15 miles west of the capital and were rushing forward in pickup trucks and on foot.

Heavy machine gun fire and explosions rang out across many parts of Tripoli on the second day of attacks by rebels from what the opposition called “sleeping cells” inside the city that has been Moammar Gadhafi’s stronghold throughout the 6-month-old civil war.

Anti Gadhafi Protests Erupt in Tripoli as Libyan Rebels Advance on Capital

People celebrate the recent news of uprising in Tripoli against Moammar Gadhafi's regime at the rebel-held town of Benghazi, Libya, early Sunday, Aug. 21, 2011. Libyan rebels said they launched their first attack on Tripoli in coordination with NATO late Saturday, and Associated Press reporters heard unusually heavy gunfire and explosions in the capital. The fighting erupted just hours after opposition fighters captured the key city of Zawiya nearby. (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)

Mukhtar Lahab, a rebel commander closing in on Tripoli and a former captain in Gadhafi’s army, said his relatives inside the capital reported mass protests in four neighborhoods known as sympathetic to the opposition: Fashlum, Souk al-Jouma, Tajoura and Janzour. He said mosques there were rallying residents with chants of “Allahu Akbar” or “God is great,” broadcast on loudspeakers.

Snipers loyal to Gadhafi on high buildings were firing on protesters in at least one of the four restive neighborhoods, said Lahab. Residents contacted in the city by telephone also reported snipers firing on civilians.

Hundreds of rebels were also advancing rapidly toward Tripoli from the west and the south. Those in the west moved beyond the village of Jedaim to within 15 miles of Tripoli, according to an Associated Press reporter with them at the front.

The AP saw hundreds of rebels at the front line streaming toward the capital, some in pickup trucks and others on foot trying to hitch rides. The mood was euphoric, with some shouting: “We are getting to Tripoli tonight.” They were shooting in the air, honking horns and should “Allahu Akbar.”

Rebel Murad Dabdoub told The Associated Press that Gadhafi’s forces were pounding rebel positions west of the city with rockets, mortars and anti-aircraft fire.

“We are not going back. God willing, this evening we will enter Tripoli,” said Issam Wallani, another rebel. He spoke from Jedaim, which has been turned into the staging area for fighters moving toward the capital. He spoke as pickup trucks loaded with fighters headed to the front and the thud of mortar shells was heard at two-minute intervals.

Libyan rebels said Saturday that they had launched their first attack on Tripoli in coordination with NATO and gunbattles and mortar rounds rocked the city. NATO aircraft also made heavy bombing runs after nightfall, with loud explosions booming across the city.

A Tripoli resident said the capital was virtually deserted on Sunday, with stores shuttered and no cars or pedestrians out on the streets. Some areas suffered power outages, according to the resident, who was reached by telephone and would only identify himself by one name, al-Tarhouni.

An AP reporter in Tripoli, meanwhile, said many of the staff at the Tripoli hotel where foreign journalists are staying did not show up for work on Sunday, a development that suggests residents were too frightened to venture out.

“There are thousands and thousands of soldiers who are willing to defend the city,” Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim told a news conference in Tripoli. He accused the rebels of committing atrocities in areas under their control and appealed for a cease-fire.

He warned of “disasters” if Gadhafi’s regime falls.

NATO said the shifting battle lines and concentration of fighting in towns and villages are making it more difficult to identify and engage targets for airstrikes.

“It’s much tougher to do in an urban area,” he said. “This requires very precise and deep intelligence to achieve without endangering the civilian population.”

In Dubai, Libya’s new rebel-allied ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, urged for stepped up NATO air attacks over Tripoli, including the use of helicopter gunships.

“We are asking for more Apache action” to counter Gadhafi forces clashing with rebels, said Aref Ali Nayed, who is also spokesman for a rebel transition team.

The United Arab Emirates is among the Arab states that have strongly backed the rebellion against Gadhafi and could provide critical assistance if the Libyan leader is ousted.

Comments (36)

  • Ron Staiger
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 7:52am

    Those of you who believe that Gadhafi’s end will lead to a democracy in Lybia are as delusional as those of you who believed that a democracy would emerge in Egypt after Mubarak. Neither country has any hope of escaping the evil theocratic dictatorship that will be their fate. Islamic extremism is their fate and in most cases what they want. You cannot reason with a population that believes that pedophilia, rape, abuse, mayhem and murder in the name of allah is ok. Don’t believe it? Ask them!

    Report Post »  
  • otmonger
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 5:32am

    Again! Why dose Obama ignore Iranian protesters!????????

    Report Post » otmonger  
  • Augie4
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 7:41pm

    Bin-Laden and now Qaddafi taken out, we’ve got payback for Pan Am 103, and all the right wing “conservatives” can do is bitch and moan and whine about it.

    At this point, I’d take a socialist Muslim community organizer with a fake birth certificate over any one of these Republican clowns you guys are putting up. At least this one seems to have some guts.

    Report Post »  
    • Wilkins
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 8:28pm

      George W had Qadaffi nice and quiet after Iraq, eager to give up the pursuit of WMD and invite inspections, because he didn’t want the same fate as Saddam (holy cr@p sez Muammar, sometimes these Americans really mean it!)

      Why so important to take him down now when we don’t really know who the rebels are? Despite Obama‘s CIA chief’s comments, the Muslim Brotherhood ain’t no curling league!

      Report Post »  
    • Wilkins
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 8:35pm

      As for OBL, if it wasn’t for a little enhanced interrogation, he’d could be sitting in Abottabad today organizing flash mob terror attacks via twitter. BHO would have nothing if not for US professionals asking very insistent questions of the right people. Then Joe ‘The Mouth’ Biden gives the game away, and the Seals are afraid for their families. Bunch of buffoons in the WH.

      Report Post »  
    • gabbygirl
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 9:10pm

      Like Obama got Quddafi. What a joke.

      Report Post » gabbygirl  
  • wewantchillywilly
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 6:05pm

    i can’t wait for Obama to take all credit for the fall of this guy.

    Report Post »  
    • lylejk
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 7:13pm

      Of course he will. Based on what I’m seeing right now on FOX, it ain’t going to be pretty though. I figure there are going to be thousands of revenge killings before the dust settles. Then, there are going to be guerrilla tactics that will kill many more. It may indeed be months before things calm down; just hope I’m wrong with my assessment and it gets better much sooner, but the rebels are full of al Quelda folk and then there is the Brotherhood. Most of the Kadafi symphethizers who get caught will be killed and possibly their family members too so again, it’s going to get ugly unless you get someone with a strong hand to take control, but then you will have yet another dictator. :)

      Report Post » lylejk  
  • lylejk
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 5:36pm

    Though I’m very concerned about the brotherhood taking over Libya, I have no tear in my eye for Kadafi. Just wish we didn’t have to spend a billion plus for this result. He should have been offed years ago. :)

    Report Post » lylejk  
  • Secessionista
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 1:30pm

    Looks like Quaddafi‘s poll ratings are about the same as Obama’s.

    Report Post » Secessionista  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 3:35pm

      New Flash: ANTI-Obama PROTESTS ERUPT IN Washington AS Tea Party ADVANCE ON CAPITAL
      Sounds good?

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
  • TelepromoterNChief
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 12:34pm

    Obama’s approval ratings continue to sink.
    A U.S. military strike team under the direction of me I me Obama will take out Gadafi.
    No photos shown as not to spike the football.
    Obama’s approval ratings will “spike” half a point for thirty minutes while he champions HIS victory and photo op.
    Ratings will sink.
    Military strike team will have a ((cough)) accident.
    Obama back to playing golf.

    Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 12:25pm

    Amazing is it not that the end results of this rebellion started and sanctioned by Obama shall be the arising of another Sharia based state led by terrorist radicals…only now they will also have the ways to reap petro-dollars for their activities around the world, legitimatly earned, and ransom Europes main supply producer of petrol and natural gas to their uttermost demands.

    Congradulations Mr Obama, you have once again demonstrated you value ties to Islamic radicals and terrorists over anything else.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • SilentReader
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 12:24pm

    Since Obama has used his puppeteer’s, George Soros the hedgefund billionaire open-borders global manipulator and destroyer of nations, Responsibility to Protect Doctrine to go into Libya I‘m sure he knows what he’s doing. Yeah, right!

    NATO global-collaborator-in-deceit is now conducting this war, along with Obambi et al of course, on thug Gadhafi for purposes of their own. I can only guess on what those purposes might be. But rest assured they won‘t be good and we’ll all just be the expendable pawns in their end-game of total Leftist-Islamist tyranny and death by government.

    Where are the Lefties now? Are they out protesting Obama’s four wars? Nada. Zilch. Is John Kerry, the threw-medals-over-the-fence maligned-the-troops slime, protesting Obama’s four wars? Nada. Zilch. Is draft-dodger addicted-to-cocaine nasty-Bosnian-war-bombed-the-Serb-Christians-while-arming-the-Mujahideen Bill Clinton protesting Obama’s four wars? Nada. Zilch. I didn’t think so.

    The Lefties, who are mostly made up of the 60‘s radicals who were blowing things up in the 60’s and 70′s, are the biggest war-mongers there ever were. They do it for a living. Just like their Islamist partners-in-worldwide-genocide. Well, they do say, birds of a feather flock together, don’t they?

    FOUR-WARS OBAMA. ARAB SPRING-TO-ACTION-LICENSE-TO-KILL. Downgrade-in-Chief. TOTAL EPIC FAILURE.

    The worst since Clinton, and Carter before him. Obama-Clinton-Carter; the new AXIS OF EVI

    Report Post » SilentReader  
    • TelepromoterNChief
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 12:38pm

      ..but they say they are none of those things.

      We though ((cough bull$#!t)) believe them.

      Report Post »  
  • mikee1
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 12:08pm

    What is this Rebel nonsense from the fluff media? Are they being led by General Lee? LOL. This is a Civil War, set off by the Odumbo handlers all over the Middle East. The goal is to destroy Israel. It is BACKFIRING BIGTIME BECAUSE THE MUSLIMS ARE NOT SATANISTS, LIKE OUR DUMMYCRAPS AND RINOS.

    Report Post » mikee1  
  • garbagecanlogic
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 11:53am

    How can these “rebels” advance on anything? They are either shooting in the air; lighting innocent tires on fire, or running across the street in a mock battle reenactment – acting like there is an enemy nearby. If their advance is indeed true, then Gadhafi’s troops must be a bunch of morons!

    Report Post »  
  • Exrepublisheep
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 11:50am

    People are fighting and dying for their freedom. So lets make fun of Obama! Idiots…

    Report Post » Exrepublisheep  
  • MODEL82A1
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 11:26am

    The MSM can solve Obama’s Iraq & Afghanistan problems by simply reporting the military presence there as, “NATO Forces”…… Wait for it.

    Report Post » MODEL82A1  
    • Lloyd Drako
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 11:34am

      Nope. On NBC this morning I distinctly heard someone say “US and NATO forces.” As if the US weren’t part of NATO. Thought you’d like to know.

      Report Post » Lloyd Drako  
  • SamIamTwo
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 11:26am

    And Obama will bless it and call it good.

    Report Post » SamIamTwo  
  • IMPEACHBHO
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 11:25am

    I love how BHO hides behind NATO. You have to know the U.S. bears the burden of the air attacks, etc..
    Let’s see, BHO has told the leaders of Egypt, Libya, and Syria to step down, thus fueling the flames. He owns this nightmare as well.

    Report Post » IMPEACHBHO  
    • MODEL82A1
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 11:29am

      Great minds think alike. And so do ours.

      Report Post » MODEL82A1  
    • Ironmaan
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 11:33am

      It allows every leader of every country to hide behind the NATO moniker. They can spend our money and blood without any responsiblility. http://guerillatics.com

      Report Post »  
    • InversionTheory
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 12:59pm

      BHO… First to jump in front of any success and first to hide behind any defeat.

      Report Post »  
  • YepImaConservative
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 11:22am

    Gaddafi leaving soon?

    “Which is what our scheming, manipulative president may see as a perfect cover for his Martha’s Vineyard escape and all those dreary reports about the coming economic depression!

    In other words, Obama may be betting on a “Gaddafi Bounce” to hide behind long enough for people to forget about Martha’s Vineyard, etc., etc.

    But what if Gaddafi outsmarts Obama—once again—and lives on to continue his slaughtering ways?

    Obama loyalists claim that the president is not overly concerned.

    After all, there are other “bounces” in the Obama arsenal, including the demise of Syria’s Assad likely to occur at any moment.”

    Report Post » YepImaConservative  
    • InversionTheory
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 1:04pm

      If he didn’t get a bounce from bin Laden… Why would he expect a big bounce from Qaddafi? The Libyan nutjob hasn’t been a major player in decades.

      Report Post »  
  • 13th Imam
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 11:21am

    The Green (Kadafee) flags now go in the closet. The Red ( Or whatever color the muslim Bros. flag is) comes out. This whole bunch of North African residents have bowed to countless despots of all religions, nationalities, colors, and fly the flag of the current dictator. These are the same people that celebrated in the streets when the towers fell. Both sides.

    Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • Wyatt's Torch
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 11:30am

      I was just thinking the same thing…it must be a real pain to keep switching flags for dictator du jour :)

      Report Post » Wyatt's Torch  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 11:49am

      They celebrated that for once america’s policies toward THEM [PROPPING UP DICTATORS, BOMBING OF CIVILIANS ,UBJUST SUPPORT OF ISRAELI OCCUPATIONS ETC-] IMPACTED us OVER HERE. tHAT WE COULD ACT IN THE WORLD FOR OUR BENEFIT AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHER PEOPLE WIT IMPUNITY WAS NO LONGER SOMETHING WE COULD TAKE FOR GRANTED .aND that is cause to celebrate for people everywhere. The world and its‘ peoples don’t belong to us.Thin skinned hypocrites who could dish out mass murder but never expected it could happen here! And if you think thatt’s not what the whole world felt-then you are in denial of that too.!

      Report Post »  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 12:00pm

      Hey Rosie
      Thanks for the usual laugh. Looking forward to Israel pumping some rockets into “your people”. Can’t you just see the rats scurrying . Then when the dust settles, Israel can bus these Arabs back to the Siani, where they can farm the sand.

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • Rayblue
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 12:17pm

      Do you pound on the keyboard with your clinched fists to get your Islamic bile out Flowerpot ?
      It seems.

      Report Post » Rayblue  

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