Journalists Freed As Guards Surrender House Spokesman, Said That Were Caught They Would Be Tripoli Was ‘‘Not a Safe Place Tried in Libya
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B World THE PRESS, CHRISTCHURCH Friday, August 26, 2011 B1 LIBYA Struggle for order in Tripoli Martin Fletcher and Anthony Loyd Tripoli Libya’s rebels struggled to create order out of chaos yesterday as sporadic fighting continued in a capital now bristling with guns but des- UNDER perately short of almost everything else. THREAT Though his own Foreign Minister acknowledged that Scandal risks Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s bringing coalition rule was over, the former govt to its knees. dictator remained at large, seeking to rally supporters from his hiding place with a Mustafa Abdel Jalil: ‘‘It is too early ❯❯ WORLD B2 call for ‘‘victory or martyr- to say that the battle of Tripoli is dom’’. over. That won’t happen until The international com- Gaddafi and his sons are munity moved to shore up the captured.’’ rebel government, but the National Transitional Council Gaddafi broadcast another (NTC) appeared hesitant to defiant message on a pro- move to Tripoli from its base regime television channel in Benghazi until the capital early yesterday, urging is secure. Libyans to ‘‘exterminate the Western journalists were traitors, infidels and rats’’. able to drive across Tripoli Later his daughter, Aisha, from west to east in relative broadcast another message safety for the first time as telling Libyans to ‘‘stand heavily armed local men hand-in-hand against Nato’’. secured the streets with But Abdul al-Obeidi, his thousands of barricades. Foreign Minister, admitted About 30 foreign journalists that the colonel’s options held by Gaddafi’s gunmen in were exhausted and his rule the Rixos Hotel for the past was over. The West African COLD GOLD five days were released. state of Burkina Faso, a But forces loyal to the beneficiary of his largesse, FOR KIWI dictator held Abu Salim, a offered him exile even as it large district in southeastern recognised the NTC. For Paralympian Adam Tripoli, and snipers still Britain, William Hague, the Hall secures Winter posed a threat in southern Foreign Secretary, told Games gold medal. parts of the city. A hardcore Gaddafi to ‘‘stop issuing group fought on at the delusional statements’’. colonel’s Bab al-Aziziya com- The NTC offered an Rapid fire: A Libyan rebel fighter fires his machinegun towards a sniper as the rebels make a final push to flush out pro-Gaddafi forces from the Bab al-Aziziya compound in Tripoli. ❯❯ SPORT B11 pound, which rebels stormed amnesty to any member of his Photos: REUTERS on Tuesday. ‘‘They are using inner circle who betrayed or tunnels to move around us killed him. Jalil said the NTC and keep fighting,’’ one rebel had no information on his fighter said. whereabouts, but insisted Josh Earnest, the White that when he and his cohorts Journalists freed as guards surrender House spokesman, said that were caught they would be Tripoli was ‘‘not a safe place tried in Libya. The Obama right now’’. Administration said it Anthony Loyd Tripoli armed and, in some cases, warning the journalists that The airport road was not believed that the colonel was apparently drugged. they should gather on the secured, and fighting blocked still in the country. Dozens of foreign journalists ‘‘The atmosphere in the roof, an Iraqi television the highway west to Tunisia. Ordinary Libyans held for three days by die- Rixos had changed a week ago journalist, known only as Tripoli is desperately low on speculated that he was in hard Gaddafi loyalists were after the rebels cut the roads Omar, stepped in as an fuel, has only intermittent Sirte or Sabha, two cities that released unharmed from their between Tripoli and the intermediary. electricity and there is little remain loyal to him, or hiding hotel yesterday. Tunisian border,’’ said Leon ‘‘He was our real hero,’’ fresh food. Hospitals lack underground in Tripoli. The group, which included Malherbe, from Reuters Tele- Malherbe said. ‘‘He was the medicines, blood supplies and ‘‘He’s like a rat. He’s 35 journalists and at least two vision. ‘‘Moussa began turn- one who started saying to the key staff. Rubbish piles up on underground,’’ Abdul Raouf, foreign politicians, were ing against us, telling us we Doctor, ‘Why should you and the streets. 31, an air-conditioning taken from the Rixos hotel in were rats. Others told us we your young men all die too? Another looming problem worker, said, invoking Gad- vehicles sent by the Inter- should be cut up and thrown You don’t have to die’. He was IN THE is the sheer number of guns dafi’s description of the rebels national Committee of the to the dogs.’’ the one, more than any other, now in circulation, many of as rats. Red Cross, which helped to When Moussa disappeared who ultimately persuaded the SHADOWS them looted from Bab al- Rebel spokesmen said that negotiate their freedom. on Monday, the journalists guards to lay down their Aziziya. The mood at the members of the NTC had Since the start of the were forced to remain in the weapons.’’ Dropped prop puts moment is jubilant, but there begun moving to Tripoli, but Libyan revolution the luxury hotel. Malherbe, who went up The end of the ordeal was hand up for is the potential for bloodshed the council appeared reluc- hotel had been the media’s to the hotel roof in a very sudden. ‘‘Someone Canterbury. and anarchy if strong govern- tant to leave Benghazi until gilded cage, where Colonel clandestine attempt to contact rushed in around 3pm and ment is not established the capital was safer. Muammar Gaddafi’s regime the outside world on Tuesday, Ordeal over: CNN producer Jomana Karadsheh and Reuters Television said, The Red Cross are here, quickly and the city’s It is preparing for talks in restricted their movement had his satellite phone blown cameraman Leon Malherbe wait with other members of the international get your things and go now’,’’ ❯❯ SPORT B14 problems deepen. Qatar with the US, UK, and exposed them to the to bits by a sniper’s bullet. media to be evacuated by the International Red Cross from the Rixos Malherbe said. Nor will the rebels con- France, Turkey and the relentless tirades of Moussa Meanwhile, the guards, led hotel in Tripoli. Photo: REUTERS Omar’s behests appeared sider their victory complete United Arab Emirates on Ibrahim, the dictator’s chief by a fighter nicknamed ‘‘the to have worked, too. until Gaddafi is caught or ways to start building a post- spokesman and propagandist. Doctor’’, were becoming By Tuesday night, as fierce refused to believe what was Clambering into the waiting killed. ‘‘It is too early to say Gaddafi Libya. President However, when rebel units increasingly violent and fighting continued through- going on in the outside world Red Cross vehicles were the REGULARS that the battle of Tripoli is Nicolas Sarkozy of France is stormed into the Libyan unpredictable. ‘‘You had to out the city, electricity and and around them.’’ ‘‘Doctor’’ and his fighters, ❯❯ over. That won’t happen until convening an urgent meeting capital on Monday, the hotel’s walk on eggshells around water supplies were cut off. But as the mysterious who had elected to lay down On this day B2 Gaddafi and his sons are of Russia, China, India and regular guards left and were them,’’ Malherbe said, ‘‘or Tadek Markowski, another ‘‘Doctor’’ began preparing the their arms and surrender captured,’’ Mustafa Abdel Brazil for the same purpose. replaced by wild-eyed young they’d push their guns journalist, said: ‘‘Despite pro-Gaddafi fighters in the rather than die for their Jalil, the NTC head warned. The Times volunteers who were heavily straight up into your face.’’ everything our guards just Rixos for a final showdown, missing leader. The Times Need a new bed? 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