Live blog: Clashes reported as rebels claim to take right into Tripoli
Libyans celebrate in Benghazi's Freedom Square what rebels claim to be the first uprising in Tripoli against Moammar Gadhafi's regime on Saturday.
August 20th, 2011
11:11 PM ET

Live blog: Clashes reported as rebels claim to take right into Tripoli

[11:10 p.m. ET, 5:50 a.m. in Libya] Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, eldest son of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, derided rebels and NATO for their efforts to take their fight inside Tripoli.

"We are in our land, in our country. We have no problem if it takes six months, one year or two years, victory will be ours. This is our country and we will not leave it," he said on Libyan state TV.

"Didn't they say that today, August 20, will be the day they take back Tripoli”

[9:50 p.m. ET, 3:50 a.m. in Libya] Below are translated quotes from Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's televised speech a few hours ago:

"Greeting to all of you gathered at the Green Square in Bab Al-Aziziya when you were gathered earlier. I tried to join you but my security did not allow me. We congratulate you for getting rid of those rats that were discovered tonight and who were attacked and defeated by the crowds ...

We did not picture that Ramadan this year would look like this. Who transformed our happiness to Sadness? Who transformed Libya’s Green face to a black one? Who brought the Christians’ Airplanes to kill our children everyday and applauded? Who is the Libyan who applauded as the NATO airplanes kill our Children every night and day during the month of Ramadan? Can we call such a person a Libyan, a Muslim or even a human being? Not even Satan would do such a thing...

Timeline of events in Libya

What have we done to France or Britain or Italy or Norway or the Denmark? You brought them here. You want to give them our oil. If you rule Libya, you will hand Libyan oil to the French people. Sarkozy wants to take Libyan oil and give it to his people. You are just a tool that they are using and providing with weapons so you can give him Libya on a Golden platter. This is clear to everyone...

This is not a Libyan roject, this is not the Project of any Libyan or any tribe or any young Libyan. Its impossible. The Libyan youths love Moammar...

They have lost and used everything and their last resort is their lying campaign. They will end with it the same way they started with it. Now this is the ending."

[8:20 p.m. ET, 2:20 a.m. in Libya] Faithi Baja, political affairs chief for the rebel's Transitional National Council, said in a video statement that the operation "is going easily" and opposition fighters are inching toward Gadhafi's Bab al-Azizia compound.

Rebel spokesman Jumma Ibrahim said clashes in Tripoli were "planned by rebels inside Tripoli in the neighborhoods of Fashloum, Souq al-Juma, Ben Ashur ... and other places." This came after coordination with other anti-Gadhafi elements, added Baja.

But speaking just before midnight in Tripoli, government spokesman Musa Ibrahim insisted that all is safe and well.

[8:20 p.m. ET, 2:20 a.m. in Libya] In a live audio address, Gadhafi blasted the rebel "traitors" and the NATO forces backing them as unethical and intent on destroying the county and ruining lives.

As he had done in a speech six days earlier, he tried to rally citizens to his side.

"A great thing, anyway, that despite the Christian air raids, you continue to be up in Tripoli," he said, an apparent reference to those who listened to his speech from Green Square. "March forward, march forward, march forward."

[8:07 p.m. ET, 2:07 a.m. in Libya] Gunfire erupts outside the hotel where CNN's Matthew Chance is staying after Gadhafi finishes his speech, Chance says via Twitter.

Gadhafi spoke on the phone live on Libya state TV, Chance said. He gave the correct date and time in an effort to prove he was speaking live, Chance said.

Follow CNN's Matthew Chance on Twitter

[7:53 p.m. ET, 1:53 a.m. in Libya] Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi was heard speaking on Libyan state TV early Sunday.

The broadcaster characterized the comments - which come amid reports of intensified fighting in Tripoli and shortly after a rebel spokesman's claimed that opposition fighters have taken the "revolution" inside the capital - as live.

The audio address was also aired in Tripoli's Green Square, where Gadhafi supporters were gathered.

[7:33 p.m. ET, 1:33 a.m. in Libya] Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi makes public address on Libyan state TV, CNN's Matthew Chance reports via Twitter.

[5:39 p.m. ET, 11:39 p.m. in Libya] Libyan government spokesman Musa Ibrahim said late Saturday that all is safe and well in Tripoli, despite reports of intense fighting and a rebel spokesman's claim that an opposition offensive had been launched in the capital.

Ibrahim added that the government of longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi remains in control of Tripoli.

Analysis: As Libyan conflict grinds on, NATO's mission shifts

[5:05 p.m. ET, 11:05 p.m. in Libya] Libyan rebels have taken their fight inside Tripoli, home to embattled leader Moammar Gadhafi, a rebel spokesman said early Sunday.

[4:55 p.m. ET, 10:55 p.m. in Libya] Heavy clashes broke out late Saturday in a Tripoli neighborhood, marked by intense gunfire, explosions and people screaming as they ran through the street, a resident of the Libyan capital told CNN.

FULL STORY
Post by: ,
Filed under: Libya
soundoff (202 Responses)
  1. Philip

    When I first started posting here, it was others who were personally attacking me on a regular basis. After a couple of months, I became disheartened and decided to stop posting here. That's when I met banasy. While the others were blasting-away at me, she stepped-in and said the kindest words anyone had ever said to me here. She said that she liked my stories, and encouraged me to continue. So i did. Then the above happened. It's a crying shame really.

    August 21, 2011 at 7:23 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Philip

    @MF guy...I have endured your giant fingers on many occassions. Personally, I'd rather read the endless rantings of old Mehdi General Dr. Bad than view your scribble. That's just me though. I like to read. Some would rather watch the picture show. Not me though. I've never bothered with owning a TV. I may very well be among the youngest Americans to never own one. (I'm over 50) And I certainly share your frustration with CNN, but not in your way of showing it...whomever you are.

    August 21, 2011 at 7:34 pm | Report abuse |
  3. mary

    Eveyone knows I'm phillip's pawn.

    August 21, 2011 at 7:43 pm | Report abuse |
  4. guest

    Philip likes to spin sh!t that will make him look good in everyone's eyes. I was there when Philip attacked banasy over and over again because she sometimes disagrees with his viewpoints. Anyone here when he threatened her and tried to blackmail her into agree with him? That's the king of person Philip is. If you don't agree with him, he takes on different personalities. Philip is a fraud as a human being and as a man of God. His only God is his own unhappiness and shortcomings.

    August 21, 2011 at 7:48 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Middle Finger Guy

    Hey, banasy, want me to give Philip the finger? LMFAO!

    August 21, 2011 at 7:59 pm | Report abuse |
  6. banasy©

    @Philip:
    Now why don't you tell the truth?
    I dislike your inflammatory way you post things.
    While I have no doubt that your stats are probably correct, the way you present them is casting aspersions on a whole lot of people that do not deserve it.
    You equate all gays/and or Catholic Priests as being pedophiles.
    That is like saying if an uncles raypes a little boy, all uncles must do so.
    If one gay has AIDS, all gays must have them.
    I was objecting to *that*, and not anything else.
    I also dislike the way you have to take any subject and make it into your own personal hate blog.
    We used to text until I had the audacity to disagree with you.
    That spelled the end of our friendship, not any stance you made.
    Just the fact that I have an opinion that you cannot sway.
    So be it.
    That's on you, not me.
    I also don't take kindly to threats.
    That's a bully.
    I do not respond to bullies.
    Your stance on gays doesn't phase me; your one track-mind and personal agenda is the thing that makes me question the wisdom of being friends with you.
    A pity, really, because you used to be pretty cool.

    August 21, 2011 at 8:29 pm | Report abuse |
  7. RUFFNUTT

    I can't blame you, CNN MEANS LIES. I feel the same way you do. For example, Neither CNN nor any other media ever mention the good things Mohammar Qadaffy did for Libya since he took power in 1969 nor the fact the King Idris was only a Muslim Elitist without any concern for his own people!!!

    August 21, 2011 at 9:07 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Sorin

    This message was posted in Globe & Mail (Canada) at 3:38 PM and erased. In the meantime a tornado hit Goderich, a place where I liked to go. What should happen to this G&M censors? On Aug 19, in Zawiya there were mass demonstrations pro Ghaddafi. Watch my clips on youtube – usr firstconservative
    There is a lot of misinformation in North America main media (left or so called right). About God and “God is great”- give me a break! Rebels are using God, as so called Canadian conservatives used God to win elections. The non believers greens -sic- (aks Zandoli here) are supporting the Ghadaffi believers. Nowdays is hard to find an independent journalist to tell the truth. In Canada, we need Who is who in the media.

    lizzy phelan- misinformation about Tripoli, Aug 20, 2011

    “This makeshift and fluctuating army, which announces a victory every other day, has in fact been collecting defeat after defeat. Every battle recreates the same scenario, with each NATO bombardment forcing the population to flee their homes. Thus, the town is quickly run over by rebel forces who announce they have gained ground. Only then does the battle begin. The Libyan army enters the town and massacres the rebels. At that point, the population safely returns to the partially destroyed village…..[…].”

    http://rt.com/news/rebels-attack-tripoli-misinformation-795/

    http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=26101

    Sorin B

    August 22, 2011 at 1:35 am | Report abuse |
  9. Guest II

    When has bansey EVER personally attack anyone? When? In all the time I have been here, I have never seen bansey say @Guest, you are______! Never! Leave bansey alone! Bansey hasn't done nything to anuone!

    August 22, 2011 at 6:45 pm | Report abuse |
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
« Back to main