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Gaddafi's Grip Falters as His Forces Take On Protesters


(New York Times) David D. Kirkpatrick and Mona El-Naggar - The faltering government of Libyan Col. Muammar Gaddafi struck back at mounting protests with special forces and mercenaries. Roving the streets of Tripoli in trucks, they shot freely as planes dropped what witnesses described as "small bombs" and helicopters fired on protesters. In Tripoli, police stations and government buildings - including the Hall of the People, where the legislature meets - were in flames. Protesters had torn down or burned the posters of Col. Gaddafi that were once ubiquitous in the capital. To the east, protesters in control of Benghazi flew an independence flag over the rooftop of the courthouse. Justice Minister Mustafa Abud al-Jeleil resigned in protest over the deadly response to the demonstrations. In New York, the Libyan delegation to the UN defected, as did Libya's ambassador to the U.S. and its representative to the Arab League. Asharq al-Awsat reported that Gaddafi had put Gen. Abu Bakr Younes under house arrest after disobeying an order to use force against protesters. Two Libyan fighter pilots ordered to bomb protesters defected to Malta.
2011-02-22 00:00:00
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