Gaddafi Army requires people to disarm Benghazi...
Forces loyal to Gaddafi have returned a number of coastal sites in the past 11 days, turning over the progress achieved by the rebels in the uprising against 42 years in the North African ruler's power.
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Bangladeshi worker who fled Libya shows his joy after receiving his passport. (Jim Hollander / Efe)
EL UNIVERSAL
Wednesday March 16, 2011 10:11 a.m.
Benghazi, Libya. - The Army said the Libyan town of Benghazi to lay down their weapons on Wednesday as it moved towards the rebel stronghold, in what could be the decisive battle in the revolt against Muammar Gaddafi.
Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam, he told the Television channel Euronews, based in France, that his troops were near Benghazi and that "everything will be over in 48 hours," Reuters reported.
Ajbadiyah City, 150 kilometers south of Benghazi, in the Gulf of Sirte, was in government hands after most of the rebels withdrew after a merciless artillery attack on Tuesday. Those who stayed had surrendered their weapons, said a rebel official.
In Benghazi, home of the provisional national council of the insurgents, the mood was a mixture of defiance and nervousness, and while some people were predicting a bloodbath, others hoped that the rebels could exceed the government offensive.
Forces loyal to Gaddafi have returned a number of coastal sites in the past 11 days, turning over the progress achieved by the rebels in the uprising against 42 years in the North African ruler's power.
Major oil industry facilities are now back under government control.
A military statement on state television described the crackdown as an operation to save the people of the "dear Benghazi" and said the soldiers would not take reprisals against those who surrender.
"Encourage your children deceived surrender their weapons to the armed forces or the Head of People and amnesty shall cover them as requested by the Commander (Gaddafi), valid for any person to deliver his gun to the armed forces and to refrain from resistance and subversion, "he said.
Benghazi residents said they had found pamphlets scattered in the streets where they were told they would not be punished if the fighting ceased.
Echoing the words of Gaddafi, leaves the rebels said they were linked to members of Al Qaeda or drugged people.
Saif al-Islam mocked the protracted debate between the Western powers to impose an air exclusion zone in Libya.
"The military operations are over. Within 48 hours all over. Our forces are near Benghazi. Whatever the decision, it will be too late," he told Euronews.
The humanitarian aid organization Doctors Without Borders said the violence had forced the withdrawal of its staff in Benghazi.
"The security conditions have made it effectively impossible to medical equipment to safely travel to areas where fighting has created the greatest needs," he said.
A former government official who lives in Benghazi, Salah Ben-Saud, was more optimistic, saying that life in the port city was normal.
"There were rumors that Gaddafi Benghazi and try to retrieve that had unnerved the population, but not over and people do not think he will do if you try" he said.
DESERT OPTIONS
However, he had the impression that the rebels had been recovered Ajdabiyah, although some sources said it was not.
Adel Yahya, a former rebel fighter, speaking by telephone from Ajdabiyah, said the army was in control in the city.
"I came out and said 'I have a gun' and I gave it. We give our guns and said they should go out and celebrate. We lost, we lost," he said tearfully.
The rebel army, composed mainly of young volunteers with little experience and deserters from the army, has been overtaken by artillery, tanks and warplanes troops Gaddafi.
Ajdabiyah making government forces gives several options in a region where British forces led by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery battled German soldiers commanded by General Erwin Rommel in World War II.
Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam, he told the Television channel Euronews, based in France, that his troops were near Benghazi and that "everything will be over in 48 hours," Reuters reported.
Ajbadiyah City, 150 kilometers south of Benghazi, in the Gulf of Sirte, was in government hands after most of the rebels withdrew after a merciless artillery attack on Tuesday. Those who stayed had surrendered their weapons, said a rebel official.
In Benghazi, home of the provisional national council of the insurgents, the mood was a mixture of defiance and nervousness, and while some people were predicting a bloodbath, others hoped that the rebels could exceed the government offensive.
Forces loyal to Gaddafi have returned a number of coastal sites in the past 11 days, turning over the progress achieved by the rebels in the uprising against 42 years in the North African ruler's power.
Major oil industry facilities are now back under government control.
A military statement on state television described the crackdown as an operation to save the people of the "dear Benghazi" and said the soldiers would not take reprisals against those who surrender.
"Encourage your children deceived surrender their weapons to the armed forces or the Head of People and amnesty shall cover them as requested by the Commander (Gaddafi), valid for any person to deliver his gun to the armed forces and to refrain from resistance and subversion, "he said.
Benghazi residents said they had found pamphlets scattered in the streets where they were told they would not be punished if the fighting ceased.
Echoing the words of Gaddafi, leaves the rebels said they were linked to members of Al Qaeda or drugged people.
Saif al-Islam mocked the protracted debate between the Western powers to impose an air exclusion zone in Libya.
"The military operations are over. Within 48 hours all over. Our forces are near Benghazi. Whatever the decision, it will be too late," he told Euronews.
The humanitarian aid organization Doctors Without Borders said the violence had forced the withdrawal of its staff in Benghazi.
"The security conditions have made it effectively impossible to medical equipment to safely travel to areas where fighting has created the greatest needs," he said.
A former government official who lives in Benghazi, Salah Ben-Saud, was more optimistic, saying that life in the port city was normal.
"There were rumors that Gaddafi Benghazi and try to retrieve that had unnerved the population, but not over and people do not think he will do if you try" he said.
DESERT OPTIONS
However, he had the impression that the rebels had been recovered Ajdabiyah, although some sources said it was not.
Adel Yahya, a former rebel fighter, speaking by telephone from Ajdabiyah, said the army was in control in the city.
"I came out and said 'I have a gun' and I gave it. We give our guns and said they should go out and celebrate. We lost, we lost," he said tearfully.
The rebel army, composed mainly of young volunteers with little experience and deserters from the army, has been overtaken by artillery, tanks and warplanes troops Gaddafi.
Ajdabiyah making government forces gives several options in a region where British forces led by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery battled German soldiers commanded by General Erwin Rommel in World War II.
