Motley Moose – Archive

As the mainstream media, like other traditional organisations, struggles to place Libya into acceptable, familiar narratives the actual events emerging renew the dramatic, populist story of the courage and determination of people aroused by the taste of freedom.

Overnight Az Zawiyah, in opposition hands and surrounded on all sides, has endured a concerted attack by forces loyal to the Qaddaffis including the ‘elite’ security battalions of the regime:

TRIPOLI, March 4 (Reuters) – Forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on Friday fought their way into Zawiyah, a town near the capital that has for days defied his rule, killing a rebel commander and pinning fighters into pockets of resistance.

At least 30 civilians were killed in the clashes, residents said by telephone. An improvised force of rebels was pushed back to the central square in Zawiyah, about 50 km (30 miles) west of the capital Tripoli, a rebel spokesman said.

“We are under siege, we are surrounded from the east, west and south, only the north is open because it opens to the sea,” Ali, a resident, told Reuters by phone. “Electricity has been cut, we are in the dark … Maybe they are planning an attack.”

Maria Golovnina – UPDATE 3-Gaddafi forces fight to seize rebel Zawiyah Reuters 5 Mar 11

It is 3:50AM in Az Zawiyah now and only daylight will reveal the outcome.

At the moment even the Libyan state television is hedging their bets after earlier reporting the city as retaken:

“Now it’s quiet. The number of dead people, nobody can say, they took away the bodies,” rebel spokesman Youssef Shagan told Reuters by phone. “One doctor told me they were shooting inside the hospital. Government troops are all around the city. I just came back from the square, our people are still there.”

Shagan earlier said many people had been killed in the small town of Harsha, just outside Zawiyah, including rebel commander Hussein Darbruk. “We have appointed a new one.”

Maria Golovnina – UPDATE 3-Gaddafi forces fight to seize rebel Zawiyah Reuters 5 Mar 11

History is unfolding before our eyes for the people and the evolution of what Juan Cole is now calling the “Great Middle Eastern revolt of 2011.”  Just now Al Jazeera English is reporting the area is still under rebel control.  Perhaps a “rockets red glare” moment for the revolution:

@LibyaInMe: Let’s remember these days.The day will come when our children will take pride in every moment we lived making history.#libya #feb17 #gaddafi

Significantly the strategic oil refinery town of Ra’s Lanuf fell to the opposition today, who scattered the loyalist Saadi Brigade in tense fighting by small units of uncoordinated but well armed and enthusiastic volunteers who have been moving forward from their successful action yesterday at Mersa Brega as well as hanging on to Az Zawiyah against all apparent odds:

By mid-afternoon, state television claimed [Az Zawiyah] had fallen to government forces, but that was later retracted. Rebels admitted they were fighting with their backs to the wall but said they were not giving up.

“There has been fighting here all day,” said one man by telephone. “We are in a very difficult position. They have snipers and have used mortars and rocket-propelled grenades.”

Both sides said there had been an unknown number of casualties, with at least 15 dead but probably more. “I visited the hospital and mosque. I think there have been 25 to 30 people killed but it may be more,” said the rebel.

In the east of the country, loyalists lost further ground. Opposition forces appeared to have captured the outskirts of Ras Lanuf, an oil town, last night, bringing the uprising to within 150 miles of Sirte, the Libyan leader’s birthplace.

James Kirkup and Richard Spencer – Libya: British Army ready for mission at 24 hours’ notice Telegraph 4 Mar 11

There are rumours now that the next objective of Sirte, considered a Qaddafi stronghold, has a wavering army presence and the massacre of disloyal local army tribesmen by the Qaddafi forces could turn the residents to the revolt.  If Sirte fell the free city of Misurata would be directly linked by the coast highway to the heart of the revolution in Benghazi.  

Tweets emerging from Libya overnight have been moving, desperate and emotional:

@alphaleah: BREAKING REPORT: RT @hamzamu another call from #zawiya :”He is burning us down!” “He is killing us all!” #libya #feb17 PLEASE RETWEET!

The narrative of stalemate which seems the favourite of the mainstream media at the moment, however, fails to capture the reality of the aspiration and determination emerging from the front lines of this extraordinary conflict.