Freedom of Expression Explodes in Libya
There has been an explosion of freedom of expression in the Libyan city of Benghazi. Dissent was banned, until rebels assumed control. As Sue Turton reports, today it looks like the writing could be on the wall for Muammar Gaddafi.

Franco Frattini Pledges Support to Libyan Rebels
Al Jazeera's Cal Perry reports from the rebel stronghold of Benghazi on Franco Frattini's visit to Libya

Religious Controls Lifted in Benghazi
In the rebel-held eastern city of Benghazi the opposition's version of governance is in full swing. Al Jazeera's Tony Birtley reports on the city where reforms are already being put into action.

Libyan Rebels to Receive £1.8 billion Trust Fund
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Libya's opposition is to get access to a special $3 billion (£1.8 billion) trust fund established by its Western backers to finance the breakaway regions fighting Col Muammar Gaddafi.

The Libya Contact Group will seek to unfreeze Libyan state assets to replenish the rebels' coffers through the initiative at a meeting in Rome.

That would include allowing the rebels to sell oil from territory under their control, but there are legal questions over who exactly owns the oil, given that Gaddafi is still in power.

There are also legal issues over whether assets owned by the regime and seized abroad could be given to the Libyan leader's opponents.

The rebels' National Transitional Council has said it urgently needs supplies of food and medicine as well as salaries for state employees.

The council said that without urgent funds from the West, the rebel leadership will face food shortages within three to four weeks and a humanitarian crisis. » | Nick Squires, Rome | Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Old Benghazi Reveals Pre-Gaddafi Days
Before Muammar Gaddafi took control of Libya in 1969, it was the Italians who ran the show, and their Mediterranean architecture still colours Benghazi's side streets.



But the Italians aren't the only foreign force to have asserted themselves over Libya's second city. Only under Gaddafi has Benghazi been wrestled into subservience to Tripoli, and the new leader did his best to erase meaningful traces of the old.



Now, those who have lived through both eras hope to see a new one that will be Benghazi's own.



Al Jazeera's Laurence Lee reports from Benghazi.

Libyan Opposition Offers Ceasefire
On the battlefields of Libya, it appears the fighting has reached something of an impasse. Pro-Gaddafi forces are again reported to be attacking pro-democracy positions in the third city of Misurata, while the two sides are also engaged in a struggle for territory near the key port of Brega.
In a new development, the opposition today offered a conditional ceasefire.

 Al Jazeera's Laurence Lee reports from Benghazi

Libya Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa Must Face Atrocities Trial, Rebels Declare
THE GUARDIAN: Rebel leadership wants defector returned and tried for crimes against humanity once Gaddafi is toppled

Libya's rebel leadership has called for Moussa Koussa, the former Libyan foreign minister who has defected to the UK, to be returned for trial for murder and crimes against humanity after Muammar Gaddafi is toppled.

Mustafa Gheriani, a spokesman for the revolutionary council in its de facto capital, Benghazi, said that the rebels were not bent on revenge against the regime's officials but that some of Gaddafi's closest associates "have a lot of blood on their hands" and must stand trial.

The British foreign secretary, William Hague, has said that Britain is not offering Koussa immunity from prosecution, and called for other regime figures to abandon Gaddafi.

Gheriani alleged that Koussa had been partly responsible for assassinating opposition figures in exile, murderous internal repression and the Lockerbie plane bombing.

"We want to bring him to court," Gheriani said. "This guy has so much blood on his hands. There are documented killings, torturing. There's documentation of what Moussa Koussa has done. We want him tried by Libyan people. I believe once we have our government 100% in control in Libya, things are normalised, we want him tried here. I think international law gives us that right."

Gheriani said it was up to Britain to decide whether to arrest Koussa in the meantime. Koussa's arrival in London was evidence that Gaddafi's regime was "starting to crumble". He expected other senior officials to follow.

"He is a very, very major person to defect. Gaddafi trusted him more than some of his sons. Now Gaddafi doesn't even trust his own people any more," Gheriani said. » | Chris McGreal in Benghazi | Thursday, March 31, 2011

Qatar Becomes First Arab Country to Recognize Libyan Rebels
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES: The tiny Persian Gulf state of Qatar has become the first Arab nation to recognize the rebels of Libya as representing that country’s legitimate ruling body.

The announcement comes following an oil marketing contract between the Benghazi-based rebels and Qatar.

Reportedly, the Qatar Petroleum company agreed to market crude oil produced from oil fields in eastern Libya, which are now firmly under rebel control.

"We contacted the oil company of Qatar and thankfully they agreed to take all the oil that we wish to export and market this oil for us," said Ali Tarhouni, a rebel official in charge of economic, financial and oil matters, according to media reports.

"Our next shipment will be in less than a week," he said, speaking from the rebel-held city of Benghazi. » | Monday, March 28, 2011

Benghazi Family Victims of Libya Conflict
The opposition stronghold of Benghazi in eastern Libya has been the scene of intense fighting as forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi have battled to take back the city. Many civilians have been caught in the violence. Al Jazeera's Tony Birtley met a young boy who suffered a bullet wound to the chest and lungs as he and his parents tried to escape Gadaffi's forces when they entered Benghazi last Saturday. His young brother was wounded in the leg and his father died in hospital a day later. His mother remains critically ill

"Aujourd'hui dans Benghazi, on entend Viva Sarkozy !"
LE POINT: Des membres du Comité de transition national (CNT) libyen sont à Paris pour évoquer la Libye de demain et le sort de Kadhafi. Rencontre.

On découvre enfin les visages de la Libye de demain, ceux qui espèrent succéder au colonel Kadhafi, présider aux destinées du pays pour en faire, selon ces mots maintes fois prononcés par eux, "une démocratie laïque". Pleinement engagé dans l'affaire libyenne, le philosophe Bernard-Henri Lévy organisait mardi soir une rencontre avec deux opposants au régime kadhafiste, membres du Comité de transition national (CNT), dans un salon de l'hôtel parisien Raphaël. Tout ce que la capitale compte d'intellectuels et d'écrivains militants des droits de l'homme était présent : Pascal Bruckner, André Glucksmann, Romain Goupil, Yann Moix, Christine Angot... Des politiques étaient également au rendez-vous - Jack Lang, Bernard Kouchner et l'ancien ministre de la Défense Paul Quilés - ainsi que des amis de Bernard-Henri Lévy, dont Pierre Bergé et Claire Chazal. À quoi ressemblent donc ces opposants libyens reconnus par la France comme seule autorité représentative du pays ? » | Saïd Mahrane | Mercredi 23 Mars 2011

Libyan Council Forms Government
The Benghazi-based National Transitional Council has taken the step of declaring a government, to be headed by former foreign envoy Mahmoud Jibril. Nisan Gouriani, spokesman for the council, speaks to Al Jazeera's James Bays about the political development

'Road of Death' Links Benghazi to Tripoli
Despite the air strikes, forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi have made gains and continued to fight on. The city of Zintan was hit heavily by Gaddafi's forces and although still reportedly free, has been surrounded. Government soldiers also surrounded Misurata, a key rebel stronghold in western Libya. There was also fierce fighting further east in Ajdabiya. Rebel fighters were seen retreating in the face of an attack by Gaddafi forces. Al Jazeera's Tony Birtley sent this report

Sporadic Gunfire in Libya
Mar 21 - Gunfire rings out in Benghazi as UN chief Ban Ki-Moon urges an end to violence. Marie-Claire Fennessy reports

Benghazi Under Attack
The Libyan opposition stronghold of Benghazi has been on edge for days.
Rebels say the city has come under constant attack by pro-Gaddafi forces over the last 24 hours.
Libya's government announced an immediate ceasefire on Friday, but government forces were said to have entered the western edge of the city on Saturday.
Al Jazeera's Alan Fisher reports

Explosions, Smoke Reported in Benghazi

Benghazi Attacked

Related »

Pro-Gaddafi Forces Enter Benghazi
BBC: Pro-Gaddafi tanks are inside Libya's rebel stronghold of Benghazi, a BBC journalist has witnessed, as the city came under attack.

A jet appears to have been shot down over the city in spite of a declared ceasefire and a UN no-fly resolution.

World leaders are due to meet in Paris to discuss military action.

The rebel leader has appealed to the international community to stop the pro-Gaddafi bombardment, but the government denies claims of attacks.

"Now there is a bombardment by artillery and rockets on all districts of Benghazi," Mustafa Abdul Jalil told Al Jazeera television. "There will be a catastrophe if the international community does not implement the resolutions of the UN Security Council.

"We appeal to the international community, to the all the free world, to stop this tyranny from exterminating civilians."

UN Secretary General ban Ki-moon says the world must "speak with one voice" on Libya.

The new UN resolution authorised "all necessary measures" to protect Libyan civilians. (+ video) » | Saturday, March 19, 2011

Related »

Libya Crisis: Fighter Plane Shot Down as Gaddafi Forces Attack Benghazi
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's forces pushed into the rebel-held city of Benghazi on Saturday, defying world demands for an immediate ceasefire and after France's U.N. envoy predicted an imminent military action.

Libyan rebels shot down a warplane that was bombing their eastern stronghold Saturday as the opposition accused Moammar Gadhafi's government of defying calls for an immediate cease-fire an launching a sea and land assault[.]

"The explosions started about 2 a.m. Gaddafi's forces are advancing, we hear they're 20 kms (12 miles) from Benghazi," Faraj Ali, a resident, said.

Gaddafi's forces advance into Benghazi pre-empted an international meeting hosted by France to discuss military intervention in Libya. The meeting will be attended by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Arab leaders.

"We saw Gaddafi's tanks, cars and missile trucks less than five km away," a rebel figher giving his name as Mohammed told Reuters.

Libya had declared a unilateral ceasefire on Friday after the U.N. Security Council authorised a no-fly zone over Libya.

But the United States accused Gaddafi of defying international demands for an immediate ceasefire, and France's U.N. envoy predicted military action within hours of the Paris meeting on Libya on Saturday.

Libyan rebels said they were being forced to retreat by Gaddafi's forces. Black plumes of smoke could be seen on the road to the west of the city, a witness said. » | Saturday, March 19, 2011

Libyan Forces 'Enter Outskirts of Benghazi'
Reports say rebel stronghold in the country's east facing government assault amid accusations of ceasefire violation

AL JAZEERA ENGLISH: Reports from Libya say pro-government forces have entered the western outskirts of the opposition stronghold of Benghazi, with the city's south also believed to be under heavy bombardment. » | Source: Agencies | Saturday, March 19, 2011

Benghazi Cheers UN No-fly Zone
The United Nations has passed a no-fly zone over Libya, just a day after the west gave little indication they were willing to act in the north African state. Pro-democracy supporters were jubilant at the news of the draft resolution being passed. In the opposition-held stronghold of Benghazi, huge crowds were seen waving flags and cheering as fireworks filled the air. Al Jazeera's Imran Khan reports

Gaddafi Addresses Benghazi Residents
Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, addressed residents of the opposition stronghold of Benghazi late on Thursday, warning them of an impending military operation during which "no mercy" would be shown to any opposition fighters. He said that if citizens laid down their arms, they would not be harmed. He also said that he had been receiving "thousands" of phone calls from Benghazi, from residents who were being held "hostage" and who wanted to be "rescued"