Live call from Misrata, May 3 0:30 am
May 3, 2011, 0:30 am local time: call to Misrata recorded live on Libya Alhurra. Current situation in Misrata (part 1), and first person account of the day Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros got killed in Misrata (English translation below).
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 2:
English transcription:
Perditta: Salam, Brother Mohammed, can you please tell us about the state of today in the city of Misrata?
Mohammed: last night, the night before, and today, bombs have been falling on civilians, bombings have been ongoing; now, they just fell, right now.
Perditta: Now?
M: Yes, the missile fell, we don’t know where, after 30mins-1 hr, we’ll find out. Earlier, there were airstrikes, a little farther away. We can distinguish between airstrikes and Gaddafi’s men’s attacks. Yesterday, random bombing began at 3am, random attacks, intense until 2pm afternoon.
Part of the attacks in area jabha (front) in area called Gheeran, and Jabha, 5 martyrs, 14 injured, 1 woman, critically injured, very serious. Gheeran is divided in half between FFs and Gaddafi’s men.
There is also another update, inside Misrata there are random mortar attacks fired by Gaddafi’s internal revolutionary forces (Lijan Al Thowrya) who are still present inside Misrata, these are less in number than in the past, who attack.
P: regarding the port, are there ships that have arrived?
M: Yes, 1 ship last night, they entered the port, docking, emptied the shipment, once it emptied, 80 GRAD rockets attacked it, it then retreated, now miles away from port, awaiting to dock, once safe. Now it’s calm, it differs, every 10mins, 15mins, 4hrs, it depends on them, sometimes, 8-10 hrs then it stops, sometimes, bombs 15mins, then continues or it can last all day.
P: Brother Mohammed, you told me that the journalists, Tim and Chris, you knew them, can you please tell us the story of the day that they were killed?
M: We came together on the ship from benghazi, we had other people whom I knew, and on that day, we arrived in Misrata, we then went out, to the frontlines, Tripoli Street, just before bridge, it was calm, we arrived next to the stores, a big store, then we reached the bridge
Those who went with me were Tim, Chris, Michael, Niego and Kate, Guy, three French journalists, I don’t know them, I met them here in Misrata I began photographing, once we reached next to the bridge, we began all photographing, then attacks began with bullet 14.5 and 23, this is heavy a little, then we drew away, towards the wall, seeking refuge there.
I turned around to my right, about 10 meters away from me, then I saw the six, Kate, Chris, Niego, Michael, and Guy, I told them to come and stay close to me, not to go far. They said ok.
Then I turned away, and continued photographing for about 4mins, then i heard the fall of mortar attack, i know the sound, I ran, until I reached the light pole, I turned, thinking that they were crouching in the store, then another mortar, fell, I was surprised that noone had yet appeared.
Then 1-2mins later, then a black Ford 4x4, appeared, then I heard Kate was screaming, “Help! Help!” in the car. So I said “Oh My God”, I then got into the car and I went to the hospital quickly, I turned on the video upon entry then i entered the Emergency Room. I saw Tim, which shocked me.
I saw them trying to resuscitate Chris and Tim. That with Tim they were trying to resuscitate him. His bleeding was on his lower leg. Chris, was on cervical region, in the back of head. Michael, his injury wasn’t as critical. Guy was injured in stomach region, a little more critical. All these I recorded with video , all documented, with me
P: All this is documented and with you?
M: Tim was the first to die on the operating table, Chris was taken to ICU, he died that night. We took Tim’s body, on the ship, then we waited to see what happened to Chris, I knew his state was critical and that there was a chance of 90% that he would die.
We then took their bodies to Benghazi. Guy we waited, his condition was unstable. Michael was taken to Malta and Guy remained in Misrata for one week, in unstable condition and was then taken to the UK.
P: Thank you Brother Mohammed, We pray for all of you. We know that many people wanted to know that day’s events.
Mohammed: Please, may I take a moment? I would like to say a few words to Tim and Chris’ families, I want to deliver the truth to the world:
For me, Tim was a true gentleman, from the beginning, once I met him, he helped me a lot. He always helped people, civilians, to get the truth out, he was creating a documentary on Misrata. He was an amazing person, amazing, amazing, as was Chris, both Tim and Chris, they were very helpful to everyone, they were both very respectful, if you ask them, they’ll help you.
Tim helped me a lot, a lot. They were both quiet and respectful. I want to tell their families, convey a letter, that their blood, that of Tim and Chris, has now mixed with Libyan blood, with the blood of the Libyan martyrs.
P: Thank you Brother Mohammed, God be with you.
M: Thank you.
Perditta: Salam, Brother Mohammed, can you please tell us about the state of today in the city of Misrata?
Mohammed: last night, the night before, and today, bombs have been falling on civilians, bombings have been ongoing; now, they just fell, right now.
Perditta: Now?
M: Yes, the missile fell, we don’t know where, after 30mins-1 hr, we’ll find out. Earlier, there were airstrikes, a little farther away. We can distinguish between airstrikes and Gaddafi’s men’s attacks. Yesterday, random bombing began at 3am, random attacks, intense until 2pm afternoon.
Part of the attacks in area jabha (front) in area called Gheeran, and Jabha, 5 martyrs, 14 injured, 1 woman, critically injured, very serious. Gheeran is divided in half between FFs and Gaddafi’s men.
There is also another update, inside Misrata there are random mortar attacks fired by Gaddafi’s internal revolutionary forces (Lijan Al Thowrya) who are still present inside Misrata, these are less in number than in the past, who attack.
P: regarding the port, are there ships that have arrived?
M: Yes, 1 ship last night, they entered the port, docking, emptied the shipment, once it emptied, 80 GRAD rockets attacked it, it then retreated, now miles away from port, awaiting to dock, once safe. Now it’s calm, it differs, every 10mins, 15mins, 4hrs, it depends on them, sometimes, 8-10 hrs then it stops, sometimes, bombs 15mins, then continues or it can last all day.
P: Brother Mohammed, you told me that the journalists, Tim and Chris, you knew them, can you please tell us the story of the day that they were killed?
M: We came together on the ship from benghazi, we had other people whom I knew, and on that day, we arrived in Misrata, we then went out, to the frontlines, Tripoli Street, just before bridge, it was calm, we arrived next to the stores, a big store, then we reached the bridge
Those who went with me were Tim, Chris, Michael, Niego and Kate, Guy, three French journalists, I don’t know them, I met them here in Misrata I began photographing, once we reached next to the bridge, we began all photographing, then attacks began with bullet 14.5 and 23, this is heavy a little, then we drew away, towards the wall, seeking refuge there.
I turned around to my right, about 10 meters away from me, then I saw the six, Kate, Chris, Niego, Michael, and Guy, I told them to come and stay close to me, not to go far. They said ok.
Then I turned away, and continued photographing for about 4mins, then i heard the fall of mortar attack, i know the sound, I ran, until I reached the light pole, I turned, thinking that they were crouching in the store, then another mortar, fell, I was surprised that noone had yet appeared.
Then 1-2mins later, then a black Ford 4x4, appeared, then I heard Kate was screaming, “Help! Help!” in the car. So I said “Oh My God”, I then got into the car and I went to the hospital quickly, I turned on the video upon entry then i entered the Emergency Room. I saw Tim, which shocked me.
I saw them trying to resuscitate Chris and Tim. That with Tim they were trying to resuscitate him. His bleeding was on his lower leg. Chris, was on cervical region, in the back of head. Michael, his injury wasn’t as critical. Guy was injured in stomach region, a little more critical. All these I recorded with video , all documented, with me
P: All this is documented and with you?
M: Tim was the first to die on the operating table, Chris was taken to ICU, he died that night. We took Tim’s body, on the ship, then we waited to see what happened to Chris, I knew his state was critical and that there was a chance of 90% that he would die.
We then took their bodies to Benghazi. Guy we waited, his condition was unstable. Michael was taken to Malta and Guy remained in Misrata for one week, in unstable condition and was then taken to the UK.
P: Thank you Brother Mohammed, We pray for all of you. We know that many people wanted to know that day’s events.
Mohammed: Please, may I take a moment? I would like to say a few words to Tim and Chris’ families, I want to deliver the truth to the world:
For me, Tim was a true gentleman, from the beginning, once I met him, he helped me a lot. He always helped people, civilians, to get the truth out, he was creating a documentary on Misrata. He was an amazing person, amazing, amazing, as was Chris, both Tim and Chris, they were very helpful to everyone, they were both very respectful, if you ask them, they’ll help you.
Tim helped me a lot, a lot. They were both quiet and respectful. I want to tell their families, convey a letter, that their blood, that of Tim and Chris, has now mixed with Libyan blood, with the blood of the Libyan martyrs.
P: Thank you Brother Mohammed, God be with you.
M: Thank you.
MAY2
Live call from Nafusa Mountains, May 2
May 2, 2011, 9.30 pm local time: live call from Yefren Media Center, Jadu, Nafusa Mountain, recorded live on Libya Alhurra.
Key points:
- Impact of Amazigh culture on the Libyan revolution of February 17.
- Report on destructions carried out by Gaddafi forces on historical Amazigh sites in Nafusa Mountain area, historical monuments being in peril.
- Humanitarian aid route through the border is not secured, expecting air support from NATO.
- Gaddafi forces remain close to Wazin, even though freedom fighters are in control of the city.
Gaddafi forces pound Misrata port, hampering aid deliveries
2 May 2011, Libya TV
Gaddafi forces bombarded the port of Misrata with rockets and shellfire today, disrupting operations to bring supplies in by sea to the besieged city.
A spokesman for the pro-democracy fighters complained that NATO forces, charged with protecting civilians caught up in the uprising against Gaddafi’s rule, had failed to act in defence of Misrata.
[read more…]
