On the Radar: Libyan conflict, Islam hearings and CNN's Freedom Project
People who fled Libya are shown at a U.N. camp in Tunisia on Sunday.
March 7th, 2011
11:09 AM ET

On the Radar: Libyan conflict, Islam hearings and CNN's Freedom Project

Libya - Supporters of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi continue to battle anti-Gadhafi forces throughout the country. The unrest has been going on for weeks and is affecting oil prices worldwide as gas prices have spiked in recent weeks. Check out CNN's reporting around Libya, city by city. On Monday, air strikes continued to target the opposition-controlled oil town of Ras Lanuf as Gadhafi supporters tried to take back the city. CNN correspondent Ben Wedeman was just outside Ras Lanuf and heard someone say, "We'll capture [Gadhafi], put him on top of this car and drive all around Libya. Every Libyan will get one shot [at the leader]." Wedeman was one of the first journalists inside the country when the protests began, and he reports on who will be fighting in the conflict.

CNN's Nic Robertson reports that fighting is getting closer to the Libyan capital of Tripoli. Also Monday, as several families in Ras Lanuf fled for cover, Gadhafi's forces made headway in the city of Bin Jawad, which was hotly fought over during the weekend. Anti-government protesters have been rallying for weeks in the hopes that Gadhafi, who has ruled the country for 42 years, will leave power. Similar uprisings occurred earlier this year in Egypt and Tunisia, and other protests have raged throughout the Middle East and North Africa as demonstrators have called for changes in leadership and power structures in their countries. What's next in Libya? Do you have a story that relates to the country? Are you there? Send an iReport.

Hearings on radical Islam - Over the weekend, protesters demonstrated in New York ahead of congressional hearings on radical Islam scheduled for this week. Other critics of the hearings include music mogul Russell Simmons. The topic is sure to remain hot all week as CNN covers every angle of the debate. Rep. Peter King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, called the for hearings on what is being called "the radicalization of American Muslims." Critics say the hearings would unfairly target Islam and could stoke fear and fuel violence against  Muslims. King and Rep. Keith Ellison, who is the first Muslim elected to Congress, talked about the reasons for the hearings on CNN on Sunday with Candy Crowley.

Freedom Project begins - CNN has launched its Freedom Project, a first-of-its-kind global effort to draw attention to and end all forms of slavery around the world, including in the United States. See  what the project is about, and read the first story in the series. It's about a group of boys from Zambia who were trafficked into the U.S. to make money for a faith-based organization. The boys saw little profit for their work and were not given the education or school in their home country that they were promised.

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Filed under: Anti-Islam • Egypt • iReport • Islam • Libya • On the Radar • Politics • Protest • Religion • Tunisia • Uncategorized
soundoff (14 Responses)
  1. RUFFNUTT

    Have you noticed how one-sided the right-wing news media handled the Civil War in Libya? I have and I find that gross how they keep cheering each "rebel" victory while castigating Mohammar Qadaffi. Obama hopes to get another pro-Western stooge to goven Libya and I guess that a lot of ignoramuses hope he does,too!!!

    March 7, 2011 at 11:42 am | Report abuse |
    • Jim Davis

      Thank you,RUFFNUTT. That was very well said.

      March 7, 2011 at 12:12 pm | Report abuse |
  2. personny

    Israel is becoming a nation. http://nopolicestate.blogspot.com/2011/01/egypt_29.html

    March 7, 2011 at 11:53 am | Report abuse |
  3. RuffNutt

    I don't know why I posted the above. I am confused.

    March 7, 2011 at 12:28 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mary

      Ya, I was about to say it seemed as though, you were in a trance of some kind. I almost fell into one my self reading it.

      March 8, 2011 at 6:43 am | Report abuse |
  4. Jim Davis

    There is no right-wing news media. What is that fake RuffNutt talking abou?

    March 7, 2011 at 12:32 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Tommy

    Search me.

    March 7, 2011 at 12:49 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Jim Davis

    Any hot bods on here today. Me need luby duby.

    March 7, 2011 at 1:14 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Tommy

    Hi

    March 7, 2011 at 1:26 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Jim Davis

    I'm sick and tired of all the bias from the right-wing media,especially the bad rap that they're giving Mohammar Qaddaffi. I for one,hope that the "rebels" fail as I'm afraid of seeing another pro-Western stooge come to power in the Middle East.

    March 7, 2011 at 3:44 pm | Report abuse |
    • leeintulsa

      Do you even know what a stooge is? A stooge doesn't hold you by the short hairs, doesn't keep doing what they're doing if their master disapproves, etc. I know it's a catchy phrase, but Moe, Larry, and even Curly deserve better.

      March 7, 2011 at 6:46 pm | Report abuse |
  9. The New KKK

    Jim fukk you

    March 7, 2011 at 6:12 pm | Report abuse |
    • Jim Davis

      Now who wants to become a KKK member when they can join the Tea Party Movement? Both have the same agenda! And you're using their lingo.

      March 7, 2011 at 10:08 pm | Report abuse |
  10. What

    40yrs of being the leader of his country and now libyans and america saying he must go kadafi is right u want me out then take me out u c~~k suckers

    March 8, 2011 at 12:29 pm | Report abuse |
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