Selasa, 01 Maret 2011
Pro Dictator Muammar Gaddafi forces struggle to regain control of strategic cities
Government opponents, the protestors in the Libyan city of Az Zawiyah have successfully repulsed an attempt by crual forces loyal to Dictatot Muammar Gaddafi to retake the city close to the capital, Tripoli, in six hours of fighting overnight, witnesses say.
Tuesday's claims follow reports that government forces attacked the city from the west and the east, and that fighter jets bombed an ammunition depot in the eastern city of Ajdabiya. There was no word on casualties in Az Zawiyah, which is 50km west of Tripoli. "We will not give up Az Zawiyah at any price,'' one witness said.
"We know it is significant strategically. They will fight to get it, but we will not give up. We managed to defeat them because our spirits are high and their spirits are zero."
The rebels, who include army forces who defected from the government, are armed with tanks, machine guns and anti-aircraft guns. They fought back pro-Gaddafi troops who attacked from six directions using the same weapons.
Karu Jayasuriya must be made the interim leader, until Sajith takes over the leadership says Shiral Lakthileka
Oppostion main party UNP Western Provincial Councilor, Shiral Lakthileka addressing a public rally in Kadawatha on the 27th saturday said that Karu Jayasuriya should be appointed as the party's interim leader in order to re-build the party voter base and to re-unite it until Sajith Premadasa takes over the party leadership.
Shiral Lakthileka further said that if such a move is done, many problems faced by the party at present could be resolved with time and would bring unity to the party without having several fraction with in the party, which is the aspiration of every UNP member opposing the current administration headed by leader similar to a dictator.
Time is now ripen to defeat President Percy Mahinda's government which is misleading the public, anti-people, swollen headed and unable to understand the problems faced by the people every day. Dowbfall of Rajapakse regime could only be brought down by a people's struggle like those that took place in Tunisia, Egypt and in progress in Libya & several other Middle Eats Countries.
A free and fair election cannot be held as long as the 18th Amendment is implemented and a powerful executive presidency existed in the country. It would also be difficult to bring the disgruntled voters to cast their votes at elections.It is therefore a day dream to think that a change looked for by the people could be brought about at an election that is held under a government that works according to its agenda and misuse at its will sate resources and the Elections Department.
It is therefore important to build a people's leadership in the party that could get the love and confidence of the people and to give protection to the commitments made by the people. The Sajith-Karu combination that was formed for the local government election seems to be working in that direction whic is good for the party.
It is Sajith Premadasa's young and energetic leadership that has been accepted, loved and trusted by the people and party members.
Premadasa has given a great strength to our party candidates contesting against the government at the local government election by traveling to every small village.
The deputy leader together with the party secretary is traveling around the country in a bus. He is uplifting the party organizations that have fallen in various parts of the country using his long standing political experiences. His expertise, love and kindness has provided a great strength to the party activists.
The Sajith-Karu combination has given a great strength to the UNPers who are working towards a future victory. When Sajith Premadasa is working with great conviction to put the party back on the winning track, Karu Jayasuriya is working hard to manage the party affairs. This active relationship is essential for a future victory. Therefore, Karu Jayasuriya must be given the party's interim leadership to build the party base and unite it until Sajith Premadasa takes over the party leadership. If that happens, most of the problems faced by the party will be resolved with time. Party unity will also be safeguarded. That is the wish of the UNPers who are opposed to the government.
Fresh Protest Break Out in Oman - Youth Uprise in Oman
- Fresh protests have taken place in the Gulf sultanate of Oman, following a wave of pro-democracy demonstrations across the Arab world -
The crowd dispersed only to regroup at the nearby Globe Roundabout, located close to the port, and the troops pulled back, the witnesses said. Later, however, traffic started to flow freely into the port, and at the roundabout five armoured vehicles watched the square but no protesters could be seen.
The Globe Roundabout has drawn up to 2,000 demonstrators over the past three days. It was the fourth day of protests in Oman, with the crowd continuing to demand jobs and political reforms . We were about 200 to 300 people in the road. The army started shooting in the air," one protester said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Many people ran. The man who was shot came to calm the army down."
Demonstrators on Monday blocked the entrance to Sohar port, which exports 160,000 barrels per day of refined oil products, and protests spread to the capital, Muscat.
Rare outbreak
The unrest in Sohar, Oman's main industrial centre, was a rare outbreak of discontent in the normally sleepy sultanate which has been ruled by Sultan Qaboos bin Said for four decades.
On Sunday, in a bid to calm tensions, the sultan promised 50,000 jobs, unemployment benefits of $390 a month and to consider widening the power of a quasi-parliamentary advisory council.
As many as six people were killed in Sohar, on Sunday, when police opened fire on stone-throwing demonstrators after failing to disperse them with batons and tear gas.
A doctor and several nurses at a state hospital said six people died but the health minister put the toll at one.
PJ Crowley, the US state department spokesman, said on Monday :"We have been in touch with the government and encouraged restraint and to resolve differences through dialogue."
Political parties are banned in Oman and Sultan Qaboos exercises absolute power in the country.
He shuffled his cabinet on Saturday, a week after a small protest in the capital Muscat, gave the first indication that Arab discontent could reach Oman. Oman is a non-OPEC oil exporter which pumps around 850,000 bpd, and has strong military and political ties to the West.
Mostly wealthy Gulf Arab countries, including Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, have pledged billions of dollars in state benefits and offered modest reforms to appease their populations. The move has come following popular unrest that toppled the leaders of Tunisia and Egypt and is threatening Muammar Gaddafi's grip on Libya.
Source ; aljazeera
Sri Lanka Wins Over Kenya - Hatrick for Malinga !
-Lasith Malinga the slinger picked up a hat-trick on his way to his six wickets- second hat-trick in world cups ! -
Kenya won the toss & batted first but were bowled out for 142 runs ( Group A match ) at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Collins Obuya and David Obuya scored half centuries making it difficult for the bowlers at one stage but non of the other players were able to score double figures, with four batsmen getting ducks.
Malinga got six wickets for 38 runs, he is the first bowler to pick up two hat-tricks in history of World Cup, it was a a one man show as each of his victims got out without the assistance of any fielders. Kulasekara, Mathews & Murali shared one wicket each. He did take another hat-trick (+ another wicket in next bowl !) in 2007 world cup against South Africa. Sri Lanka reached 143 in 18.4 overs very comfortably. ( Dilshan 44[30], Tharanga 67n.o[59], 27no[24].
Reagrding the R Premadasa Pitch
As we were saying about this so many times, it's nice to see that Veteran Commentator Ramees Raja (One Former Pakistan Capatain) too pointed out that it's unfair for the way the pitch behaves against the team batting second, under lights. Also he said it's not nice to have a pitch where toss is playing the crusual role in the match. He observed this when Dilshan got out with a short pitch dilevary which came in sharply & took the edge when TM tried to play to third man region.
SO it's vital for Sri Lanka to win the toss against Aussies & put a good decent total on board to win or else it will be another match like what we so with Pakistanis.
Malinga got six wickets for 38 runs, he is the first bowler to pick up two hat-tricks in history of World Cup, it was a a one man show as each of his victims got out without the assistance of any fielders. Kulasekara, Mathews & Murali shared one wicket each. He did take another hat-trick (+ another wicket in next bowl !) in 2007 world cup against South Africa. Sri Lanka reached 143 in 18.4 overs very comfortably. ( Dilshan 44[30], Tharanga 67n.o[59], 27no[24].
Reagrding the R Premadasa Pitch
As we were saying about this so many times, it's nice to see that Veteran Commentator Ramees Raja (One Former Pakistan Capatain) too pointed out that it's unfair for the way the pitch behaves against the team batting second, under lights. Also he said it's not nice to have a pitch where toss is playing the crusual role in the match. He observed this when Dilshan got out with a short pitch dilevary which came in sharply & took the edge when TM tried to play to third man region.
SO it's vital for Sri Lanka to win the toss against Aussies & put a good decent total on board to win or else it will be another match like what we so with Pakistanis.
Gaddafi's forces battle rebels - Protestors repulse the Attack !
- The USA had moved warships and air forces closer to Libya and France had started to send aid to the opposition controlled eastern half of the country -
Pro Gaddafi Fighter jets reported to have bombed Ajdabiya and Az Zawiyah as Libyan Dictator defies mounting international pressure. According to some unconfirm reports several hundred of innocent people have died and injured badly.
Forces loyal to Dictator Muammar Gadaffi are battling rebels in control of cities both close to Tripolo the capital city and far away from it.
Reports said on Monday that fighter jets bombed an ammunition depot in the eastern city of Ajdabiya, while a resident of Az Zawiyah, 50km west of Tripoli, told us by telephone that fighting started on Monday evening and intensified after sundown when troops loyal to Gaddafi attacked the city from the west and east.
"We were able to repulse the attack. We damaged a tank with an RPG. The mercenaries fled after that," said the resident of Az Zawiyah, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of government reprisals.
He said Gaddafi called the city's influential tribal leader, Mohammed al-Maktouf, and warned him that if the rebels did not leave the main square by early Tuesday, they would be hit by fighter jets & he had told the protestors should take responsibility if a Genocide occurs.
"We are expecting a major battle," resident of Az Zawiyah said, adding that the rebels killed eight soldiers and mercenaries on Monday.Another resident of Az Zawiyah said he heard gunfire well into the night on the outskirts of town.
AP Reporter said he saw a large, pro-Gaddafi force massed on the western edge of Az Zawiyah. There were also about a dozen armoured vehicles along with tanks and jeeps mounted with anti-aircraft guns.
An officer said the troops were from the elite Khamis Brigade, named after one of Gaddafi's sons who commands it and said by US diplomats to be the best-equipped force in Libya.
The fighting came amid mounting international pressure on Gaddafi - already under sanctions over his handling of the turmoil - to end a crackdown on opponents pushing for his ouster.
The US, meanwhile, said it was moving warships and air forces closer to Libya and France said it would fly aid to the opposition-controlled eastern half of the country.
But Abdel Fattah Younes, Libya's former interior minister who has defected to the opposition, told Al Jazeera that welcoming "foreign troops" was "out of the question" although "touching down in Libya is acceptable only in the case of emergency".
"For example if any pilot was forced to eject, he will be hosted and protected by us," he said.
Humanitarian concerns
With government forces and rebels clashing in different parts of Libya, the security situation in and around Tripoli has made it too dangerous for international aid agencies to assess the need for medicine, food and other supplies there, according to the UN.
"The major concerns are Tripoli and the west where access is extremely difficult because of the security situation," Valerie Amos, the UN humanitarian chief, told Al Jazeera on Monday.
"There are reports that between 600 and 2,000 people have already been killed in Tripoli. We don't know the absolute accurate number because we haven't got people there who are able to do assessments ... we've seen some horrific pictures of what is happening and we really want to be able to go in to help people in the time of need."
Amos also called on countries neighbouring Libya to keep their borders open so refugees can continue to flee.
As of Monday morning, an estimated 61,000 had fled into Egypt, 1,000 to Niger and 40,000 to Tunisia, according to the UN, which said there was concern about water and sanitation for the refugees.
Libya also borders Algeria, Niger, Chad and Sudan.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has also called for immediate and safe access to western Libya.
ICRC teams entered the eastern side of the country including the country's second city Benghazi over the weekend, and are now supporting local doctors with medical care. Two thousand people were wounded there, according to the agency.
A similar ICRC team including surgeons and supplies was waiting on the western border in Tunisia.
"Right now, the situation is far too unstable and insecure to enable much-needed help to enter western parts of the country," Yves Daccord, the ICRC director-general, said.
"Health and aid workers must be allowed to do their jobs safely. Patients must not be attacked, and ambulances and hospitals must not be misused. It's a matter of life and death."
Thousands of foreigners have been evacuated from Libya since the unrest began on February 17, with ships and aircraft sent by countries including China India, the US, Turkey and many other European countries.
Anti-government protests started in the country's second-largest city of Benghazi, which is now in the hands of the protesters, and have since spread to the west of the country.
Gaddafi, in power since 1969, remains defiant and has scoffed at calls to step down, saying foreign powers, including al-Qaeda and drug addicts, were behind the unrest.
SOurce ; al jazeera.net
Forces loyal to Dictator Muammar Gadaffi are battling rebels in control of cities both close to Tripolo the capital city and far away from it.
Reports said on Monday that fighter jets bombed an ammunition depot in the eastern city of Ajdabiya, while a resident of Az Zawiyah, 50km west of Tripoli, told us by telephone that fighting started on Monday evening and intensified after sundown when troops loyal to Gaddafi attacked the city from the west and east.
"We were able to repulse the attack. We damaged a tank with an RPG. The mercenaries fled after that," said the resident of Az Zawiyah, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of government reprisals.
He said Gaddafi called the city's influential tribal leader, Mohammed al-Maktouf, and warned him that if the rebels did not leave the main square by early Tuesday, they would be hit by fighter jets & he had told the protestors should take responsibility if a Genocide occurs.
"We are expecting a major battle," resident of Az Zawiyah said, adding that the rebels killed eight soldiers and mercenaries on Monday.Another resident of Az Zawiyah said he heard gunfire well into the night on the outskirts of town.
AP Reporter said he saw a large, pro-Gaddafi force massed on the western edge of Az Zawiyah. There were also about a dozen armoured vehicles along with tanks and jeeps mounted with anti-aircraft guns.
An officer said the troops were from the elite Khamis Brigade, named after one of Gaddafi's sons who commands it and said by US diplomats to be the best-equipped force in Libya.
The fighting came amid mounting international pressure on Gaddafi - already under sanctions over his handling of the turmoil - to end a crackdown on opponents pushing for his ouster.
The US, meanwhile, said it was moving warships and air forces closer to Libya and France said it would fly aid to the opposition-controlled eastern half of the country.
But Abdel Fattah Younes, Libya's former interior minister who has defected to the opposition, told Al Jazeera that welcoming "foreign troops" was "out of the question" although "touching down in Libya is acceptable only in the case of emergency".
"For example if any pilot was forced to eject, he will be hosted and protected by us," he said.
Humanitarian concerns
With government forces and rebels clashing in different parts of Libya, the security situation in and around Tripoli has made it too dangerous for international aid agencies to assess the need for medicine, food and other supplies there, according to the UN.
"The major concerns are Tripoli and the west where access is extremely difficult because of the security situation," Valerie Amos, the UN humanitarian chief, told Al Jazeera on Monday.
"There are reports that between 600 and 2,000 people have already been killed in Tripoli. We don't know the absolute accurate number because we haven't got people there who are able to do assessments ... we've seen some horrific pictures of what is happening and we really want to be able to go in to help people in the time of need."
Amos also called on countries neighbouring Libya to keep their borders open so refugees can continue to flee.
As of Monday morning, an estimated 61,000 had fled into Egypt, 1,000 to Niger and 40,000 to Tunisia, according to the UN, which said there was concern about water and sanitation for the refugees.
Libya also borders Algeria, Niger, Chad and Sudan.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has also called for immediate and safe access to western Libya.
ICRC teams entered the eastern side of the country including the country's second city Benghazi over the weekend, and are now supporting local doctors with medical care. Two thousand people were wounded there, according to the agency.
A similar ICRC team including surgeons and supplies was waiting on the western border in Tunisia.
"Right now, the situation is far too unstable and insecure to enable much-needed help to enter western parts of the country," Yves Daccord, the ICRC director-general, said.
"Health and aid workers must be allowed to do their jobs safely. Patients must not be attacked, and ambulances and hospitals must not be misused. It's a matter of life and death."
Thousands of foreigners have been evacuated from Libya since the unrest began on February 17, with ships and aircraft sent by countries including China India, the US, Turkey and many other European countries.
Anti-government protests started in the country's second-largest city of Benghazi, which is now in the hands of the protesters, and have since spread to the west of the country.
Gaddafi, in power since 1969, remains defiant and has scoffed at calls to step down, saying foreign powers, including al-Qaeda and drug addicts, were behind the unrest.
SOurce ; al jazeera.net
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