Libya unrest triggers avalanche of Internet rumours
Another website, feb17.info, posted a photograph of a man in an air force uniform identified as Muhammad Mukhtar Osman who it said was behind the attack, with the caption: "This act of courage will forever be remembered. Osman is a hero to the revolution."
Libyan officials point to the unconfirmed reports as proof that Libya is the victim of an elaborate international conspiracy to destabilise the north African country.
"They are part of a concerted campaign by the Libyan opposition, Gulf Arab countries and the United States to hurt Libya through lies and misinformation," said Mussa Ibrahim, a government spokesman who studied digital media in Britain.
"These Arab states are not comfortable with the example Libya sets. Libya gives oil to its people. They don't. It's a clear plot against Libya."
Throw al Qaeda into the equation and the picture becomes even murkier. Libyan government officials say the group imported more than 37 million painkillers to cloud the minds of youngsters to persuade them to take up arms against the government.
A number of tweets said this week Gaddafi's sons were wounded in a confrontation in Tripoli and taken to a hospital which they said had been cordoned off by security.
Officials denied that report. The hospital appeared to be operating as normal when Reuters reporters drove past it on Wednesday to check.
One Facebook group, called Support Libya Feb17 Revolution, posted a link to a website detailing tips on how to run guerrilla warfare, complete with advice on urban fighting and how to win popular support from civilians in rural areas.
The advice may have come too late for the ill-equipped rebels. Government forces have been routing them as they push towards the eastern rebel bastion of Benghazi.
Another website, feb17.info, posted a photograph of a man in an air force uniform identified as Muhammad Mukhtar Osman who it said was behind the attack, with the caption: "This act of courage will forever be remembered. Osman is a hero to the revolution."
Libyan officials point to the unconfirmed reports as proof that Libya is the victim of an elaborate international conspiracy to destabilise the north African country.
"They are part of a concerted campaign by the Libyan opposition, Gulf Arab countries and the United States to hurt Libya through lies and misinformation," said Mussa Ibrahim, a government spokesman who studied digital media in Britain.
"These Arab states are not comfortable with the example Libya sets. Libya gives oil to its people. They don't. It's a clear plot against Libya."
Throw al Qaeda into the equation and the picture becomes even murkier. Libyan government officials say the group imported more than 37 million painkillers to cloud the minds of youngsters to persuade them to take up arms against the government.
A number of tweets said this week Gaddafi's sons were wounded in a confrontation in Tripoli and taken to a hospital which they said had been cordoned off by security.
Officials denied that report. The hospital appeared to be operating as normal when Reuters reporters drove past it on Wednesday to check.
One Facebook group, called Support Libya Feb17 Revolution, posted a link to a website detailing tips on how to run guerrilla warfare, complete with advice on urban fighting and how to win popular support from civilians in rural areas.
The advice may have come too late for the ill-equipped rebels. Government forces have been routing them as they push towards the eastern rebel bastion of Benghazi.
While Libya watchers continue to debate what they think is happening on the ground, people inside the country are in an information black hole, with the Internet switched off for most ordinary users.
Reports of attacks and further unrest are likely to keep coming. But there are so many versions of events that even Twitter enthusiasts themselves have called for restraint.
"I urge you to confirm your sources before starting a wave of rumours and tweets," one prominent user called Tripolitanian urged all tweeters. (Additional reporting by Maria Golovnina, Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)
