April 1st Updates
New York: 09:52 London: 14:52 Tripoli: 15:52
15:33 BBC The BBC’s Nick Springate reports from Libya’s eastern town of Brega that for the first time, rag-tag rebel forces have been bolstered by a number of well-armed, seemingly well-trained soldiers in full military attire. It’s not clear where they’ve come from, our correspondent says, but their very presence has boosted morale on the front line. ”
13:47 BBC Here’s more from Libyan intelligence chief Abuzayd Umar Durdah, who called in to state TV last night to deny reports he was defecting. He told them: “It is impossible for Abuzayd Durdah to think, not only when awake but even when dreaming, of leaving Libya or the Libyan people or the revolution, or betraying its leader Muammar al-Gaddafi…I am in Libya and am going to stay in it, and I am steadfast in the victorious revolution’s trench.”
12:55 @LibyanDictator tweets BREAKING: Violent clashes in #Misrata as Gaddafi brigades attempt to push further into city using heavy shelling and mortars.”
12:51 The Telegraph Sources familiar with the secret talks held in London by Mohammed Ismail say he floated a face-saving proposal for Gaddafi to step down but hand power to his sons.
12:35 BBC A Libyan doctor has told the BBC that a coalition airstrike on Wednesday killed seven civilians and wounded 25 in a village near Brega. The BBC has been unable to confirm this information and are looking to confirm it with the Ministry of Defense.
12:32 Reuters Heavy machinegun and automatic gunfire rang out in the centre of the Libyan capital Tripoli before dawn on Friday, Reuters witnesses said.It was not immediately clear what triggered the shooting. The gunfire lasted about 20 minutes and stopped before dawn. Cars were heard speeding along central Tripoli streets.
12:18 Harald Doornbos, GPD correspondent says that he spoke yesterday night with Dutch diver in Benghazi. His colleague died after Gaddafi’s army stole a bag of crucial medicine. The man suffered from epilepsy, and had to take medication daily. The man is said to have suffered several epileptic attacks without his medication, which likely resulted in his death.
12:00 Radio Netherlands Worldwide A Dutchman has died in Libya. The man worked as a diver for an oil company. Pro-Gaddafi militias attacked the man and his two colleagues in their compound. Their equipment was stolen and they were locked up for two days. After they were released they left for Benghazi, one of the men had died. A second man was injured and the third is thought to have left to Egypt.
11:36 AP A strictly unconfirmed report from AP concerning Mohammed Ismail, the senior Gaddafi envoy who has been in London holding confidential talks with British officials. The report quotes unnamed sources saying Ismail was not on a Gaddafi-mandated mission but was actually in town visiting relatives — and when officials became aware they seized the opportunity to speak to him.
11:26 Reuters The UN special envoy to Libya has arrived in Benghazi in order to meet officials of Transitional National Council, revolutionaries have told Reuters. They also said they hoped to show Abdelilah al-Khatib they are “putting their house in order” and that this would help the Council gain international recognition as Libya’s legitimate government.
11:16 Al Jazeera English Khaled al-Farjani, a captain in the Libyan air force who is now fighting with the rebels, says: “Some military have come and strengthened the rebel lines. God willing, they will begin with Ajdabiyah and go to Brega and Ras Lanuf.” Unarmed Libyans seeking to help in the battle were stopped by the revolutionaries at checkpoints.
10:31 The Telegraph The Gaddafi regime has quietly been putting guards in place at key positions in an atempt to prevent any more high-level defections, according to a report in the New York Times. It follows Moussa Koussa’s medical ploy, which enabled him to travel to Tunisia from wher he flew to London.
10:30 The Guardian Gaddafi regime has dispatched one of its most trusted envoys to London for talks with British officials. Mohammed Ismail’s visit is one of many connections between Libyan officials and the west, a possible indication the regime may be looking for an exit strategy.
10:07 The Telegraph Reports of heavy fighting around the key oil town of Brega which was retaken by government forces yesterday.
10:00 Al Jazeera Mohammed Abu Al Qassim Al Zawi, head of Libya’s Popular Committee (equivalent of a parliament) and Shokri Ghanem, a top oil official, are the lastest rumoured defectors according to some Arabic newspapers.
01:21 BBC Libyan rebel radio is reporting an acute shortage of fuel in Tripoli, according to BBC Monitoring. There are long queues for fuel and one petrol station operator has put up a banner saying: “No petrol after today”.
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