THE INDEPENDENT: Army units and militiamen loyal to Muammar Gaddafi struck back against protesters who have risen up in cities close to the capital today, attacking a mosque where many had taken refuge and blasting its minaret and opening fire on others protecting a local airport.
The assaults aimed to push back a rebellion that has moved closer to Gaddafi's bastion in the capital, Tripoli. The revolt has already broken away nearly the eastern half of Libya and unravelled parts of Gaddafi's regime.
In the latest blow to the Libyan leader, a cousin who is one of his closest aides, Ahmed Gaddaf al-Dam, announced that he has defected to Egypt in protest against the regime's bloody crackdown against the uprising, denouncing what he called "grave violations to human rights and human and international laws." (+ video of Gaddafi’s daughter, Dr. Ayesha Gaddafi, making a statement) >>> AP | Thursday, February 24, 2011
