But details of the reports conflicted, and the status of one key city, Port Brega, was unclear.
At first, Al-Jazeera, citing the channel’s
correspondent, reported that pro-Gadhafi security forces had taken
control there with more than 500 military vehicles. Al-Arabiya
television reported “random bombing” of the city, citing an unnamed
eyewitness.
But hours later, an Al-Jazeera correspondent was
quoted as saying that the opposition forces had retaken the city.
Al-Arabiya, citing its correspondent in eastern
Amid the reported clashes, Gadhafi took to the
airwaves in a lengthy speech before local dignitaries, supporters and a
smattering of foreign journalists. He noted that he had resigned from
his official posts and handed power to the people 34 years ago
Wednesday, marked as a major holiday in
He vowed to “gouge the eyes of those casting doubt
on the people’s authority.” Crowds of supporters in the venue punched
their fists into the air and punctuated his speech with slogans of
support.
“The people are the master,” he said. “They have the
power in their hands. I carried out a revolution in 1969, then handed
over the power to the people to later go and rest in my tent. I have no
post to resign from like the presidents of other countries. I am not a
prime minister or a president.”
A day earlier, Gadhafi had marshaled cheering
supporters and convoys of trucks said to be headed for rebel territory.
His foes boasted of sending 500 men down the coastal highway for a
showdown in
Little of the conflicting claims and choreographed
displays of control shed light on the true balance of power in the
latest Middle Eastern uprising against autocratic rule. The Gadhafi
government’s show of strength in and around
on Tuesday was for the benefit of foreign journalists on official tours
of the capital, where the once seemingly invincible leader has hunkered
down with loyalists and vowed to defeat the fierce challenge to his
41-year rule.
“I need
a 21-year-old student, as cars filled with supporters in the suburb of
Qasr ben Ghashir honked horns and passengers pumped their fists in the
air. “Those who say life is bad here are liars.”
As Gadhafi lieutenants cast a picture of calm and
normality in areas still under the regime’s control, opponents in the
rebel-held east claimed that they had gained ground in several coastal
cities and that they had repulsed government forces trying to take back
at least three strategic venues that fell last week.
Even in the government-held towns around the capital
where regime supporters took visiting journalists, frightened opponents
whispered words of dissent when government minders were out of earshot,
and the official pronouncements often had a hollow ring.
It was unimaginable, for instance, that the trucks
reportedly headed to the eastern city of Benghazi with relief supplies
could break through the rebel roadblocks along the huge stretches of
coastal roadway. It was likewise impossible to verify rebel claims that
they have organized an imminent surge toward
About 500 young fighters, itching to join what they expect to be the final drive to topple Gadhafi and take
headed west, braving dangerous desert crossings to skirt the last
government strongholds, rebel commanders in Benghazi reported.
As Gadhafi foes and supporters weathered the tense impasse around
in the second week of the rebellion, the international community
stepped up pressure on the defiant strongman with renewed calls for him
to step down and for sanctions to punish his bloody crackdown.
U.S. Secretary of State
wants to “invade for oil.” The White House is also aware of the Libyan
rebels’ desire to oust Gadhafi without foreign help, she said.
In comments to the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
Clinton suggested that the administration is likely to continue to
exercise restraint, even though officials have said military moves are
under consideration.
Two U.S. amphibious assault ships were headed for
the Mediterranean, as were 400 Marines, moves intended to keep U.S.
forces poised to respond to any situation, Defense Secretary
“We are looking at a lot of options and
contingencies,” Gates said, noting that no actions have been authorized
by the United Nations or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and
that military strategists were discussing with
At United Nations headquarters in
from the U.N. Human Rights Council in a voice vote, heeding a
recommendation by the council Friday to sanction Gadhafi for using
force against his people.
A U.N. spokesman also confirmed reports that Gadhafi
has taken steps to replace Libyan diplomats who have broken with him.
The deputy U.N. ambassador, Ibrahim Dabbashi, told journalists that
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(c) 2011, Los Angeles Times.
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