This video is about the overthrow of King Idris of Libya in 1969.
From daily The Morning Star in Britain:
Benghazi declares autonomy in Libya
Tuesday 06 March 2012
by Our Foreign Desk
Tribal leaders and paramilitary commanders declared oil-rich eastern Libya a semi-autonomous region today.
At a congress in Benghazi chiefs and militiamen appointed Ahmed al-Zubair al-Senussi, a relative of former Libyan king Idris, leader of Cyrenaica‘s governing council.
Mr Senussi pledged to uphold the rights of the region but also said his council recognises the Tripoli-based National Transitional Council (NTC) to run Libya’s international affairs.
Congress organiser Mohammed Buisier, a Libyan national with US citizenship, said: “In Cyrenaica we would like to take care of housing, education and other things and would delegate national security and defence to the central government.”
The NTC has repeatedly rejected calls for Libya to be run on federal lines.
Mr Buisier refused to rule out unilateral action if the central government does not recognise Cyrenaica’s autonomy, saying: “I do not want to visit this. We will see.”
The congress has already formed its own army, the Barqa Supreme Military Council, which is made up of militiamen who participated in the Nato-backed insurgency last year.
Barqa commander Colonel Hamid al-Hassi said that he doesn’t take his orders from the NTC – and that the force was prepared to fight to assert its autonomy.
“Even if we had to take over the oil fields by deploying our forces there or risk another war, we will not hesitate for the sake of Barqa,” he said.
Thousands of people marched to Benghazi’s courthouse on Monday night chanting: “Libya is united” and “Do not break up Libya.”
Libya leader vows to halt autonomy bid. Mustafa Abdel Jalil accuses Arab countries of funding effort to carve out eastern state and threatens force against it: here.
Libya autonomy declaration poses threat of civil war: here.
Refugees face dangerous and often impossible escape from Libya: here.
Libya: Benghazi’s Declaration for Semi-Autonomy Comes As No Surprise: here.
The Tunisian Government officially recalled the consul from the east Libyan city of Benghazi, announcing the end of his mission. This decision was made after the consul participated in a conference in Benghazi on March 6th, 2012, that called for the autonomy of Eastern Libya, historically known as Cyrenaica: here.
Cyrenaica autonomy can be first step towards split of Libya: here.
Libya: Human Rights Council Monitoring Needed – Militias Committing Serious Crimes: here.
Libya: Civilian Deaths From Nato Airstrikes Must Be Properly Investigated: here.
Almost 150 people have been killed in a desert town in southern Libya following six days of intercommunal strife: here.
Libya: Vulnerable Somalis Suffer to Reach Country in Search of Safety and a Future: here.
Militia may hand over airport
LIBYA: A militia group that has kept a stranglehold on Tripoli airport since the overthrow of Moammar Gadaffi’s government said today it may finally hand control to Ministry of Interior forces.
A spokesman for the Zintan militia, which has faced intense pressure over its refusal to do so, said it would pull out by the end of the week.
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/116362
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Nato man praises Libya bombing
QATAR: The Nato soldier who led the bombing campaign against Libya praised Qatar’s role in the blitzkrieg in a speech to top brass in Doha on Sunday.
Lieutenant General Joseph Bouchard said Qatari forces had bridged the cultural gap between Nato forces and local insurgents and “provided us with a strategic understanding of the Arab point of view of this, which was very important for leadership.”
Lt Gen Bouchard said popular social media such as YouTube and Facebook had played a key role in the campaign. “We have to tailor our media to target different segments of people, officials, troops and mercenaries.”
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/117066
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NATO ‘failed to aid’ Libyan migrant boat – Council of Europe
29 March 2012 | 16:50 | FOCUS News Agency
Tripoli. A report into the deaths of 63 Libyan refugees on a small boat last May said a “catalogue of errors” by coastguards and NATO meant they were never rescued, BBC reports.
The Council of Europe inquiry says two NATO ships close by failed to respond to distress calls sent by coastguards.
Only nine people survived the 15-day Mediterranean voyage after the boat ran out of fuel and drifted back to Libya.
NATO has said it has no record of any of any aircraft or ship under its command making contact with the boat.
However, it says other search and rescue missions were launched around this time.
The report says some 1,500 people died at sea trying to reach Europe in 2011.
http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n274469
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Civilians report border clashes
Libya: Residents of two Libyan towns near the western border with Tunisia have said that clashes have erupted between militias that control the area.
There was no immediate word of casualties.
Ragdalein militia spokesman Rami Kanaan reported that they captured 34 Zwara men on Sunday.
Mr Kanaan said that the militia had decided to take action after months of abuses by a Zwara brigade, including the looting of property.
Zwara local council head Abo-Bakr Taloa says 21 of his men were captured.
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/117364
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