JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel is debating whether to say sorry for storming a Gaza-bound Turkish activist ship last year, after its jurists recommended satisfying Ankara's demand for an apology to help fend off war-crimes lawsuits.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far voiced only "regret" for the navy's killing of nine pro-Palestinian Turks aboard the Mavi Marmara, but Israeli officials say support for a stronger show of contrition is spreading in his government.
Spurring the debate has been the imminent publication of a U.N. report on the seizure, which Israel predicts will mostly vindicate its Gaza blockade strategy while infuriating the Turks, who have said they would reject any such finding.
Hoping to avoid deepening the crisis, the former allies have been discussing a reconciliation deal, with Turkey insisting it include an Israeli apology. Netanyahu has not publicly responded but some top cabinet colleagues have voiced opposition.
"We are not ready to apologize, as apology, actually, is taking responsibility. You know, our soldiers on the Mavi Marmara were fighting to defend their lives," Vice Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon told foreign journalists Thursday.
But other officials said Netanyahu had received legal advice that apologizing would forestall Turkish bids to prosecute, in international courts, the marines who clashed with activists while boarding the cruise ship on the Mediterranean high seas.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak, the lone center-left figure in Netanyahu's conservative coalition government, has called for compromise with Turkey "to put things behind us," citing the spiraling instability of a region where Israel lacks friends.
Asked whether Israel might change tack, Yaalon allowed that apologizing to Turkey "might be a debate" in the government and said his demurral was his personal opinion.
SIX-DAY DEADLINE
"We still have six days" to decide, he said, referring to Israel's announcement that the inquiry set up by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and chaired by
former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer would publish its findings on July 27.
The exact phrasing of an Israeli apology, should one be forthcoming, would have to be in "language that both sides can live with," a senior Turkish official told Reuters in Ankara.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has demanded Israel also compensate Mavi Marmara survivors and end Gaza's blockade.
Yaalon said Israel was willing to pay into a "humanitarian fund" for those bereaved or hurt aboard the ship. But Israel, having eased land crossings into Gaza, has signaled no change to a sea closure it says stems gun-running by Hamas militants.
Officials from both sides have been involved in the preparation of the Palmer report and are familiar with its contents.
Yaalon, Israel's senior envoy in the talks, said the Palmer report "actually supports the Israeli position regarding the legitimacy, the legality of the naval blockade and, as a result of it, the legality, the legitimacy of the interception."
The report would also "criticize the use of force by us," he said, but added this would not be tantamount to questioning the case-by-case conduct of marines who inflicted casualties.
Turkish officials have declined to comment on the specific content of the report.
Yaalon, a former chief of Israel's armed forces who in 2006 narrowly avoided an attempt by pro-Palestinian activists to have him arrested while on a visit to New Zealand, played down the importance of any Turkish help in averting legal actions.
Indemnification by Ankara, he said, would not be relevant in other countries where such "annoying" lawsuits can be pursued.
He added: "If we are ready to sacrifice our lives to defend the country, we should be ready to deal with this challenge."
An Israeli apology would incense Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Netanyahu's ultra-nationalist senior coalition partner, who has said the onus was on Turkey to make amends.
But Yaalon saw no threat of Lieberman leaving the government.
"The coalition is very strong," he said.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Libya's Gaddafi rules out talks
SIRTE, Libya (Reuters) - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi ruled out on Thursday talks with the rebels seeking to end his 41-year-rule, casting doubt on a flurry of Western efforts to negotiate an end to a deepening civil conflict.
"There will be no talks between me and them until Judgment Day," Gaddafi told a crowd of thousands of his supporters in his home city of Sirte in a remotely delivered audio message. "They need to talk with the Libyan people ... and they will respond to them."
The rally in the quiet seaside city drew men wearing green hats, women waving flags and children whose faces were painted with pro-Gaddafi slogans.
Their vociferous support for Gaddafi -- and rebel declarations earlier that the war could not be ended through talks -- showed how far Libya may be from a negotiated end to its five-month-old conflict.
Rebels who have struggled to arm and organize themselves have suffered losses in the past week near the insurgent stronghold of Misrata and the eastern oil hub Brega, but are pushing ahead with their campaign to unseat the longtime leader.
On Thursday the rebels said their advance toward the capital had been slowed by the laying of hundreds of thousands of mines at Brega, but the frontline at Zlitan advanced to the closest it has ever been to the western city's outskirts.
Foreign diplomatic efforts to find a solution have intensified as the fighting drags on. China said it would work with the African Union, which has proposed a plan seen as less hostile to the Libyan leader than a Western plan that insists on his stepping down.
Chinese President Hu Jintao told his visiting South African counterpart Jacob Zuma that the Africans had played an important role in pushing a political solution.
"China greatly appreciates this and is willing to continue remaining in close touch and to coordinate closely with South Africa and the African Union on the Libya issue," Hu said.
France said on Wednesday Gaddafi could stay in Libya if he gave up power, an apparent softening of the West's stance in a new effort to find a diplomatic end to the war.
The United States said Gaddafi must quit, but whether he remained in Libya after that would be up to the Libyan people.
But Libyan officials have said before now that Gaddafi's departure was not up for negotiation and the rebels said on Thursday that no one seriously expected talks to end the crisis.
"No one talks about a political solution. Impossible. He closed all the doors," said Colonel Ahmed Bani, a rebel military spokesman. "What do we tell the widower? What do we tell the mother who lost her children ... We can't negotiate, people will devour us."
MINES AND TRENCHES
Bani said he expected a breakthrough in Brega in a few days, and in the western town of Zlitan within two days.
"We are advancing slowly and clearing the mines ... but we know that at the end, we will enter it (Brega)," he told Reuters in an interview in the eastern rebel stronghold of Benghazi.
"The fall of Brega is the end of the regime."
Libya's front line near the oil town of Brega, one of the last strongholds of Gaddafi's forces, has been deadlocked for weeks.
Bani estimated that 400,000 mines had been planted around Brega and said the rebels, mostly volunteers with no military experience, were working to clear them with almost no help from experts. Gaddafi's forces have pushed back the rebels by filling trenches with petrol and setting them ablaze.
The rebel forces are now about 20 kms from the edge of Brega, but Gaddafi's forces still control the city and its oil installations, he said. The rebel forces are dug in east and south of Brega.
In Zlitan, on the coast road 160 km (100 miles) east of the capital, the rebel front line has advanced 4 kms in the past 24 hours, a major gain that leaves the rebels around 5 kms from the city's outskirts.
This is the nearest the rebels have ever come to Zlitan, a source familiar with the battles said. Three rebel fighters were killed and 25 wounded on Thursday in fighting outside Zlitan, according to hospital figures. Five rebels were killed on Wednesday by mines, the rebels said.
State TV showed what it said were fresh pictures from Zlitan and Brega in an apparent bid to show the towns were still firmly in Tripoli's hands. In Zlitan, dozens of Gaddafi supporters were shown chanting slogans of support.
Some analysts have said Gaddafi is running short of fuel and food, which could stoke popular unrest ahead of the Muslim month of Ramadan which begins next week. During Ramadan, people prepare nightly feasts after fasting by day.
The state news agency JANA said officials met on Thursday to ensure food supplies "reach consumers as soon as possible before the start of Ramadan."
Gerald Howarth, British Minister for International Security Strategy, said there would be no pause in the war for Ramadan.
"There will be no let-up in the coalition activities to protect the people of Libya," he said. "It would be highly irresponsible to give Gaddafi any excuse to inflict the kind of brutality that he has displayed in the past."
"There will be no talks between me and them until Judgment Day," Gaddafi told a crowd of thousands of his supporters in his home city of Sirte in a remotely delivered audio message. "They need to talk with the Libyan people ... and they will respond to them."
The rally in the quiet seaside city drew men wearing green hats, women waving flags and children whose faces were painted with pro-Gaddafi slogans.
Their vociferous support for Gaddafi -- and rebel declarations earlier that the war could not be ended through talks -- showed how far Libya may be from a negotiated end to its five-month-old conflict.
Rebels who have struggled to arm and organize themselves have suffered losses in the past week near the insurgent stronghold of Misrata and the eastern oil hub Brega, but are pushing ahead with their campaign to unseat the longtime leader.
On Thursday the rebels said their advance toward the capital had been slowed by the laying of hundreds of thousands of mines at Brega, but the frontline at Zlitan advanced to the closest it has ever been to the western city's outskirts.
Foreign diplomatic efforts to find a solution have intensified as the fighting drags on. China said it would work with the African Union, which has proposed a plan seen as less hostile to the Libyan leader than a Western plan that insists on his stepping down.
Chinese President Hu Jintao told his visiting South African counterpart Jacob Zuma that the Africans had played an important role in pushing a political solution.
"China greatly appreciates this and is willing to continue remaining in close touch and to coordinate closely with South Africa and the African Union on the Libya issue," Hu said.
France said on Wednesday Gaddafi could stay in Libya if he gave up power, an apparent softening of the West's stance in a new effort to find a diplomatic end to the war.
The United States said Gaddafi must quit, but whether he remained in Libya after that would be up to the Libyan people.
But Libyan officials have said before now that Gaddafi's departure was not up for negotiation and the rebels said on Thursday that no one seriously expected talks to end the crisis.
"No one talks about a political solution. Impossible. He closed all the doors," said Colonel Ahmed Bani, a rebel military spokesman. "What do we tell the widower? What do we tell the mother who lost her children ... We can't negotiate, people will devour us."
MINES AND TRENCHES
Bani said he expected a breakthrough in Brega in a few days, and in the western town of Zlitan within two days.
"We are advancing slowly and clearing the mines ... but we know that at the end, we will enter it (Brega)," he told Reuters in an interview in the eastern rebel stronghold of Benghazi.
"The fall of Brega is the end of the regime."
Libya's front line near the oil town of Brega, one of the last strongholds of Gaddafi's forces, has been deadlocked for weeks.
Bani estimated that 400,000 mines had been planted around Brega and said the rebels, mostly volunteers with no military experience, were working to clear them with almost no help from experts. Gaddafi's forces have pushed back the rebels by filling trenches with petrol and setting them ablaze.
The rebel forces are now about 20 kms from the edge of Brega, but Gaddafi's forces still control the city and its oil installations, he said. The rebel forces are dug in east and south of Brega.
In Zlitan, on the coast road 160 km (100 miles) east of the capital, the rebel front line has advanced 4 kms in the past 24 hours, a major gain that leaves the rebels around 5 kms from the city's outskirts.
This is the nearest the rebels have ever come to Zlitan, a source familiar with the battles said. Three rebel fighters were killed and 25 wounded on Thursday in fighting outside Zlitan, according to hospital figures. Five rebels were killed on Wednesday by mines, the rebels said.
State TV showed what it said were fresh pictures from Zlitan and Brega in an apparent bid to show the towns were still firmly in Tripoli's hands. In Zlitan, dozens of Gaddafi supporters were shown chanting slogans of support.
Some analysts have said Gaddafi is running short of fuel and food, which could stoke popular unrest ahead of the Muslim month of Ramadan which begins next week. During Ramadan, people prepare nightly feasts after fasting by day.
The state news agency JANA said officials met on Thursday to ensure food supplies "reach consumers as soon as possible before the start of Ramadan."
Gerald Howarth, British Minister for International Security Strategy, said there would be no pause in the war for Ramadan.
"There will be no let-up in the coalition activities to protect the people of Libya," he said. "It would be highly irresponsible to give Gaddafi any excuse to inflict the kind of brutality that he has displayed in the past."
Monday, July 18, 2011
Kotoko clinch Sunderland partnership
Ghana giants Kumasi Asante Kotoko have today signed a partnership agreement with English side Sunderland FC.
A statement on Sunderland's official website on Monday said the agreement will seek to provide support in various areas for Kotoko while providing Sunderland with a leap into the emerging African market through the Ghanaian giants.
"The new partnership will see Sunderland share its coaching and business expertise with the Ghanaian club, offering practical support and advice in youth coaching, player development, fitness and medical matters and football business strategy. Kotoko in turn will work closely with Sunderland to help the club build and grow its brand in the emerging African territory," the statement said.
Sunderland chairman Nail Quinn said : "It was a huge honour to welcome the Kotoko officials to our club and I'm delighted that we have now formalised a partnership agreement with them.
"There's a tremendous passion for football in Ghana and I see a real synergy with Sunderland in that respect - football means the world to the people of Ghana and in that respect they are no different to Sunderland fans. There's an infectious enthusiasm for the game that is wonderful to witness and we are honoured to be working with Kotoko and the Ghanaian people
Ivorian arms smuggled into Ghana - WANEP
The West Africa Network for Peace building (WANEP)- Ghana says its intelligence gathering reports indicate weapons that were used during the Cote d’Ivoire political crisis have been smuggled into Ghana.
The organization says it fears that such weapons, which have been illegally acquired, could be used during the 2012 general elections to cause mayhem in Ghana.
It is against this backdrop, that the West Africa Network for Peace building has appealed to the security agencies in Ghana to conduct periodic community swoops to retrieve such weapons and ammunition from unauthorized persons.
The organization is also convinced that such a periodic exercise will boost the security agencies's determination to flush out miscreants whose activities endanger human security in most Ghanaian societies.
This was revealed in a four page document issued by WANEP-Ghana as part of its regular national security briefs under its Ghanawarn project that collates data on early warning signals.
The brief signed by Justin Bayor, National Network Coordinator of WANEP-Ghana highlighted armed robbery and proliferation of small arms, accidents and natural disasters as the three thematic areas that affected human security between March and April 2011.
Part of the brief revealed that 55 Ivorian combatants were arrested in the Brong-Ahafo Region while another person was arrested with 48 rounds of ammunition at Sefwi-Wiawso in the Western Region.
It added that the Greater Accra Regional Police Command arrested six out of twelve foreigners including an ex-Nigerian soldier and a policeman on two separate deadly occasions between the 20th and 24th April 2011 at the Bundumburam camp and Kaneshie for armed-robbery.
On road accidents, the brief recorded three major accident cases two of which involved Ministers of State, namely Deputy Education Minister Mahama Ayariga and Majority leader Hon. Cletus Avoka whose accidents occurred during the President’s tour of the Upper East Region.
A report submitted by officials of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) revealed that more than 4,000 people were displaced following consistent rainstorms in various parts of the country with the hardest hit being the Northern Regions and the Afram Plains.
The West Africa Network for Peace building as part of its recommendations implored the Ghana Immigration and the Customs Excise and Preventive Services to be more vigilant at the borders to reduce the influx of foreigners and small arms into Ghana.
WANEP-Ghana further urged the National Road Safety Commission, the district assemblies and other allied departments to map out disaster prone settlement communities and implement strategies that will help prevent avoidable flooding in those communities
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Kadhafi has 'suicide plan' for capital: Russia envoy
Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi has a "suicidal plan" to blow up the capital Tripoli if it is taken by rebels, the Kremlin's special envoy to Libya told a Russian newspaper Thursday.
"The Libyan premier told me: if the rebels seize the city, we will cover it with missiles and blow it up," Kremlin envoy Mikhail Margelov said in an interview with the Izvestia daily.
Margelov met Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi al-Mahmudi last month.
"I imagine that the Kadhafi regime does have such a suicidal plan," he added, saying that Kadhafi still had plentiful supplies of missiles and ammunition.
But Margelov, who has had rare access to senior Libyan officials, questioned reports that Kadhafi could be running out of arms in the drawn-out conflict.
Kadhafi had still not used a single surface-to-surface missile, he argued.
"Tripoli theoretically could lack ammunition for tanks, cartridges for rifles. But the colonel has got plenty of missiles and explosives."
Margelov met the Libyan prime minister on June 16 in Tripoli after holding talks in Benghazi earlier the same month. He has not met Kadhafi himself.
Russia abstained from a vote on a March UN Security Council resolution that opened the way for foreign involvement and has since criticized the campaign -- particularly arms drops by France.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday for talks on Libya, where Lavrov sought to play down differences between the countries.
However, the Russian foreign ministry said earlier Wednesday that Moscow would not take part in talks on Libya later this week in Turkey, which has also seen itself as a mediator in the conflict
"The Libyan premier told me: if the rebels seize the city, we will cover it with missiles and blow it up," Kremlin envoy Mikhail Margelov said in an interview with the Izvestia daily.
Margelov met Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi al-Mahmudi last month.
"I imagine that the Kadhafi regime does have such a suicidal plan," he added, saying that Kadhafi still had plentiful supplies of missiles and ammunition.
But Margelov, who has had rare access to senior Libyan officials, questioned reports that Kadhafi could be running out of arms in the drawn-out conflict.
Kadhafi had still not used a single surface-to-surface missile, he argued.
"Tripoli theoretically could lack ammunition for tanks, cartridges for rifles. But the colonel has got plenty of missiles and explosives."
Margelov met the Libyan prime minister on June 16 in Tripoli after holding talks in Benghazi earlier the same month. He has not met Kadhafi himself.
Russia abstained from a vote on a March UN Security Council resolution that opened the way for foreign involvement and has since criticized the campaign -- particularly arms drops by France.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday for talks on Libya, where Lavrov sought to play down differences between the countries.
However, the Russian foreign ministry said earlier Wednesday that Moscow would not take part in talks on Libya later this week in Turkey, which has also seen itself as a mediator in the conflict
French prime minister visits newly oil-rich Ghana
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon (L) speaks with Ghanaian President John Atta Mills in Accra.
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon on Saturday visited Ghana, Africa's newest major oil producer, telling President John Atta Mills that France wanted to take part in his nation's development.
Fillon travelled to the West African nation on the second stop of a three-country tour that first led him to Ivory Coast, with his final stop Gabon.
Ghana was the only one of the three on the tour that was not a former French colony, having gained independence from Britain in 1957.
Fillon said the visit showed "France's willingness to participate in Ghana's economic development," adding that his country was re-orienting its policies toward Africa to further engage non-French-speaking nations.
"Many French companies are interested in doing business in Ghana," Fillon said at a meeting with Mills, with 2011 GDP growth estimates for the country having been put at around 12 percent.
Besides its recently discovered oil wealth, Ghana is seen as a democratic model in West Africa. Mills narrowly won presidential elections in 2008 and is running again in the 2012 vote.
Mills said at the meeting that his country had followed the path of democracy as the only way of attaining peace and economic development.
But the start of large-scale oil production in December has raised concerns over the potential pitfalls, with some warning of the corruption and economic mismanagement that has plagued nearby Nigeria, Africa's largest oil producer.
French foreign trade minister Pierre Lellouche was part of the delegation along with several French business executives. Lellouche was also to attend an economic forum in Accra.
Three financing agreements with French development agency AFD were signed during the visit, including one involving urban development projects, for a total of some 50 million euros.
Fillon also paid tribute to Ghana's contributions to peacekeeping efforts, with Ghanaian troops having participated in a number of missions throughout the continent.
Iraq says Kuwait began port project unilaterally
Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Friday that Kuwait never officially informed Baghdad about a controversial port project, which his country says must be stopped.
Baghdad alleges that the neighbouring emirate's Mubarak megaport will hinder Iraq's access to shipping lanes.
"The astonishing thing about the Mubarak port is that the Kuwaiti side never mentioned it during our long discussions" over many outstanding issues, Maliki said in a statement from his office.
"Iraq only learned about it from third parties."
Maliki was reacting to remarks by a senior Kuwaiti official that Baghdad had been informed in advance about the project, his office said.
Earlier this month, Iraqi Transportation Minister Hadi al-Amari said Kuwait must stop work on the Mubarak port because it will block Iraqi access to shipping lanes.
Kuwait began work on the $1.1 billion (778 million euros) port in May. The facility, on Kuwait's Bubyan Island, is scheduled for completion in 2016.
The Gulf is the main export outlet for Iraqi oil, which accounts for the lion's share of the country's revenues, and Baghdad has started major work to modernise
its outdated ports.
Baghdad alleges that the neighbouring emirate's Mubarak megaport will hinder Iraq's access to shipping lanes.
"The astonishing thing about the Mubarak port is that the Kuwaiti side never mentioned it during our long discussions" over many outstanding issues, Maliki said in a statement from his office.
"Iraq only learned about it from third parties."
Maliki was reacting to remarks by a senior Kuwaiti official that Baghdad had been informed in advance about the project, his office said.
Earlier this month, Iraqi Transportation Minister Hadi al-Amari said Kuwait must stop work on the Mubarak port because it will block Iraqi access to shipping lanes.
Kuwait began work on the $1.1 billion (778 million euros) port in May. The facility, on Kuwait's Bubyan Island, is scheduled for completion in 2016.
The Gulf is the main export outlet for Iraqi oil, which accounts for the lion's share of the country's revenues, and Baghdad has started major work to modernise
its outdated ports.
Blasts rock Tripoli as Kadhafi vows to remain
New blasts rocked the Libyan capital early Sunday as leader Moamer Kadhafi vowed to remain in the land of his ancestors in the face of new calls for him to go and with rebels pressing their campaign to oust him.
At least 13 blasts were heard before and just after 2300 GMT Saturday. An AFP journalist was unable to say immediately what the targets had been.
State television channel Al Jamahiriya reported that "the colonialist crusader aggressor," a reference to NATO, had raided civilian and military sites in the Ain Zara district and Tajoura in the eastern suburbs of Tripoli.
The television, quoting a military source, said there had been victims but did not give any figure.
Earlier, Kadhafi repeated his intention to remain in power.
"They are asking me to leave. That's a laugh. I will never leave the land of my ancestors or the people who have sacrificed themselves for me," he said in a loudspeaker address to supporters in Zawiyah, some 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Tripoli.
Western and regional powers met in Istanbul on Friday for the fourth gathering of the Libya contact group, which saw a fresh call on Kadhafi to go after more than four decades in power.
"I'm ready to sacrifice myself for my people, and I will never quit this land sprinkled with the blood of my ancestors who fought Italian and British colonialists," he said of the five-month-long revolt against his rule.
"These rats have taken our people hostage in Benghazi, Misrata and the western mountains, using them as human shields," Kadhafi said of insurgents in the rebel capital in the east and port city in the west.
"Five million armed Libyans will march on them and liberate the occupied towns as soon as the order is given," he added.
Libya's rebels on Saturday suffered their bloodiest day yet in the offensive to wrest control of Brega from Moamer Kadhafi's troops, as medics said the death toll had risen to at least 12.
Nine people were killed Saturday and 79 were injured as loyalist landmines began to vie with Grad rockets to ramp up the casualties, according to a list from the hospital in nearby Ajdabiya.
Rebels said their steady advance on the key oil hub of Brega was slowed Saturday by the discovery of defensive trenches around the city that had been filled with flammable chemicals by retreating Kadhafi troops.
After a small rebel reconnaissance unit from the north punched through to Brega late on Friday before falling back, a rebel commander said troops were now moving "slowly but surely" towards it from the east and south as well.
It was not clear what kind of chemicals were being used, but Brega is home to a large petrochemical facility that produces a range of oil by-products.
Libya's largely volunteer rebel army began its push on Brega late on Thursday, hoping to oust an estimated 3,000 loyalist fighters and provide a morale boost for war-weary rebel supporters.
"Most of Kadhafi's troops seem to be at the centre," said rebel military spokesman Mohammed Zawi.
At a hospital in Ajdabiya, Dr Ahmed Dinari said many casualties were caused by landmines rather than heavy artillery.
"We have had five more injuries this morning, all of them from mine explosions," he said.
Lying prone in "Bed 2," 19-year-old Ali Saleh said he had been in the central rebel column when his armoured personnel carrier hit a mine.
"We were very close to Brega at around three in the morning. Then we got instructions from NATO to fall back and as we were falling back the vehicle hit a mine, destroying the chain track."
He was suffering from shock and a lightly damaged knee.
Sagezli said 250 mines had been uncovered so far.
The alliance said on Friday it hit one tank, a multiple rocket launcher, five armoured vehicles and seven armed vehicles around the town.
In raids near Tripoli, NATO aircraft also took out a radar facility and a surface-to-air missile launcher.
Southwest of the capital, a rebel checkpoint commander said Kadhafi troops had fired five missiles at their forces who responded with rockets.
"There has been no fighting in the valley (near Gualish); it is quiet. Kadhafi's forces have carried out several operations but they are sufficiently far from us not to pose any problems," Shaban Aaboz said.
Another commander said rebel forces were still positioned near Asabah, 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of Tripoli and the last obstacle between rebels and the garrison town of Gharyan.
"The position is secure; we are discussing with Asabah people how civilians can get out of town before we launch an assault," said commander Mokhtar Lakhdar
At least 13 blasts were heard before and just after 2300 GMT Saturday. An AFP journalist was unable to say immediately what the targets had been.
State television channel Al Jamahiriya reported that "the colonialist crusader aggressor," a reference to NATO, had raided civilian and military sites in the Ain Zara district and Tajoura in the eastern suburbs of Tripoli.
The television, quoting a military source, said there had been victims but did not give any figure.
Earlier, Kadhafi repeated his intention to remain in power.
"They are asking me to leave. That's a laugh. I will never leave the land of my ancestors or the people who have sacrificed themselves for me," he said in a loudspeaker address to supporters in Zawiyah, some 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Tripoli.
Western and regional powers met in Istanbul on Friday for the fourth gathering of the Libya contact group, which saw a fresh call on Kadhafi to go after more than four decades in power.
"I'm ready to sacrifice myself for my people, and I will never quit this land sprinkled with the blood of my ancestors who fought Italian and British colonialists," he said of the five-month-long revolt against his rule.
"These rats have taken our people hostage in Benghazi, Misrata and the western mountains, using them as human shields," Kadhafi said of insurgents in the rebel capital in the east and port city in the west.
"Five million armed Libyans will march on them and liberate the occupied towns as soon as the order is given," he added.
Libya's rebels on Saturday suffered their bloodiest day yet in the offensive to wrest control of Brega from Moamer Kadhafi's troops, as medics said the death toll had risen to at least 12.
Nine people were killed Saturday and 79 were injured as loyalist landmines began to vie with Grad rockets to ramp up the casualties, according to a list from the hospital in nearby Ajdabiya.
Rebels said their steady advance on the key oil hub of Brega was slowed Saturday by the discovery of defensive trenches around the city that had been filled with flammable chemicals by retreating Kadhafi troops.
After a small rebel reconnaissance unit from the north punched through to Brega late on Friday before falling back, a rebel commander said troops were now moving "slowly but surely" towards it from the east and south as well.
It was not clear what kind of chemicals were being used, but Brega is home to a large petrochemical facility that produces a range of oil by-products.
Libya's largely volunteer rebel army began its push on Brega late on Thursday, hoping to oust an estimated 3,000 loyalist fighters and provide a morale boost for war-weary rebel supporters.
"Most of Kadhafi's troops seem to be at the centre," said rebel military spokesman Mohammed Zawi.
At a hospital in Ajdabiya, Dr Ahmed Dinari said many casualties were caused by landmines rather than heavy artillery.
"We have had five more injuries this morning, all of them from mine explosions," he said.
Lying prone in "Bed 2," 19-year-old Ali Saleh said he had been in the central rebel column when his armoured personnel carrier hit a mine.
"We were very close to Brega at around three in the morning. Then we got instructions from NATO to fall back and as we were falling back the vehicle hit a mine, destroying the chain track."
He was suffering from shock and a lightly damaged knee.
Sagezli said 250 mines had been uncovered so far.
The alliance said on Friday it hit one tank, a multiple rocket launcher, five armoured vehicles and seven armed vehicles around the town.
In raids near Tripoli, NATO aircraft also took out a radar facility and a surface-to-air missile launcher.
Southwest of the capital, a rebel checkpoint commander said Kadhafi troops had fired five missiles at their forces who responded with rockets.
"There has been no fighting in the valley (near Gualish); it is quiet. Kadhafi's forces have carried out several operations but they are sufficiently far from us not to pose any problems," Shaban Aaboz said.
Another commander said rebel forces were still positioned near Asabah, 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of Tripoli and the last obstacle between rebels and the garrison town of Gharyan.
"The position is secure; we are discussing with Asabah people how civilians can get out of town before we launch an assault," said commander Mokhtar Lakhdar
LA traffic steers clear of 'Carmageddon' fears
LOS ANGELES (AP) — So far Southern California's fears that shutting down a major highway would result in "Carmageddon" have gone unrealized. But drivers haven't steered clear of trouble just yet.
The traffic many thought would be a nightmare has been much lighter than normal as Los Angeles entered the second full day Sunday in the closure of a 10-mile (16-kilometer) stretch of Interstate 405 — one of the country's busiest highways.
Officials were elated that the public appeared to get the message to stay off the roads, though some were concerned the lack of gridlock would make drivers complacent and spur them to return to the road before Monday's scheduled reopening.
"We hope they still listen to what we're saying and not go out and try to drive through this area, because it is going to be congested if people do that," said Mike Miles, a district director of the California Department of Transportation, known as Caltrans.
Authorities closed the segment of 405 on the western side of Los Angeles at midnight Friday for 53 hours to allow the partial demolition of a bridge.
For weeks, authorities warned people that driving as usual this weekend could trigger what's been hyped as "Carmageddon" — an event could back up vehicles from the 405 to surface streets and other freeways, causing a domino effect that could paralyze much of Los Angeles
But the fears of epic traffic jams dissipated with fewer cars on the roads.
"It's been one of the most quiet Saturdays I've seen in forever," said Steven Ramada, who had expected to hear lots of cars honking in front of his Sherman Oaks home but instead only heard news helicopters.
Demolition work is expected to be completed by 2 a.m. Monday, followed by cleanup and reopening of the freeway at 5 a.m., with on-ramps and connectors all reopened by an hour later.
Project contractor Kiewit Infrastructure West will face a $6,000 fine in each direction for every 10 minutes of delay in getting the freeway reopened, according to the city's Metropolitan Transportation Authority. That's a total of $72,000 an hour.
Progress on demolition of the half-century-old Mulholland Bridge was on schedule, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said.
Authorities looking at the potential impacts of the $1 billion interstate project spent months giving the public dire warnings. The event got its name when Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky told an early June press conference that "this doesn't need to be a Carmageddon" if people avoided driving.
The potential for Carmageddon is rooted in Los Angeles' geography. The city is divided by the Santa Monica Mountains, which stretch more than 40 miles (65 kilometers) from near downtown westward through Malibu. The populous San Fernando Valley lies on the north side, and the Los Angeles Basin sprawls to the south.
Local and long-distance freeway traffic through the mountains has to squeeze through Sepulveda Pass on I-405 or through Cahuenga Pass, which carries U.S. 101 through the heart of Hollywood. In between there is no grid of boulevards, just a few narrow, windy canyon roads.
Major interchanges on both sides of Sepulveda Pass exacerbate the crunch.
The drumbeat of warnings about the weekend triggered an instant industry of businesses trying to capitalize. JetBlue offered special flights from Burbank in the San Fernando Valley to Long Beach, with seats for the short hop costing just $4 or $5.
A cycling group saw that as an opportunity for a race. The cyclists started their ride 90 minutes before the flight's departure time to simulate the time that passengers would have to arrive at Burbank. Another member of the group took the flight and all were to meet at a Long Beach park.
Cyclist Stephan Andranian said it took the bikers one hour and 34 minutes to complete the ride from Burbank to Long Beach, largely following the Los Angeles River. Flight passenger Joe Anthony's total travel time including cab ride from Long Beach Airport to the park was just over 2 1/2 hours.
"We want to show that using a bike in LA is not only possible but that it can be faster than other modes of transportation," Andranian said.
Many mocked the frenzied language surrounding the closure, especially on Twitter, where Hollywood's comedians had at their hometown.
"How's everyone coping with this terrifying apocalyptic nightmare of having to ... oh my god ... stay home with your family?!!!" Bill Maher wrote.
Albert Brooks took was more philosophical in his Tweet: "If we would close the freeways every weekend we would have a great society."
The traffic many thought would be a nightmare has been much lighter than normal as Los Angeles entered the second full day Sunday in the closure of a 10-mile (16-kilometer) stretch of Interstate 405 — one of the country's busiest highways.
Officials were elated that the public appeared to get the message to stay off the roads, though some were concerned the lack of gridlock would make drivers complacent and spur them to return to the road before Monday's scheduled reopening.
"We hope they still listen to what we're saying and not go out and try to drive through this area, because it is going to be congested if people do that," said Mike Miles, a district director of the California Department of Transportation, known as Caltrans.
Authorities closed the segment of 405 on the western side of Los Angeles at midnight Friday for 53 hours to allow the partial demolition of a bridge.
For weeks, authorities warned people that driving as usual this weekend could trigger what's been hyped as "Carmageddon" — an event could back up vehicles from the 405 to surface streets and other freeways, causing a domino effect that could paralyze much of Los Angeles
But the fears of epic traffic jams dissipated with fewer cars on the roads.
"It's been one of the most quiet Saturdays I've seen in forever," said Steven Ramada, who had expected to hear lots of cars honking in front of his Sherman Oaks home but instead only heard news helicopters.
Demolition work is expected to be completed by 2 a.m. Monday, followed by cleanup and reopening of the freeway at 5 a.m., with on-ramps and connectors all reopened by an hour later.
Project contractor Kiewit Infrastructure West will face a $6,000 fine in each direction for every 10 minutes of delay in getting the freeway reopened, according to the city's Metropolitan Transportation Authority. That's a total of $72,000 an hour.
Progress on demolition of the half-century-old Mulholland Bridge was on schedule, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said.
Authorities looking at the potential impacts of the $1 billion interstate project spent months giving the public dire warnings. The event got its name when Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky told an early June press conference that "this doesn't need to be a Carmageddon" if people avoided driving.
The potential for Carmageddon is rooted in Los Angeles' geography. The city is divided by the Santa Monica Mountains, which stretch more than 40 miles (65 kilometers) from near downtown westward through Malibu. The populous San Fernando Valley lies on the north side, and the Los Angeles Basin sprawls to the south.
Local and long-distance freeway traffic through the mountains has to squeeze through Sepulveda Pass on I-405 or through Cahuenga Pass, which carries U.S. 101 through the heart of Hollywood. In between there is no grid of boulevards, just a few narrow, windy canyon roads.
Major interchanges on both sides of Sepulveda Pass exacerbate the crunch.
The drumbeat of warnings about the weekend triggered an instant industry of businesses trying to capitalize. JetBlue offered special flights from Burbank in the San Fernando Valley to Long Beach, with seats for the short hop costing just $4 or $5.
A cycling group saw that as an opportunity for a race. The cyclists started their ride 90 minutes before the flight's departure time to simulate the time that passengers would have to arrive at Burbank. Another member of the group took the flight and all were to meet at a Long Beach park.
Cyclist Stephan Andranian said it took the bikers one hour and 34 minutes to complete the ride from Burbank to Long Beach, largely following the Los Angeles River. Flight passenger Joe Anthony's total travel time including cab ride from Long Beach Airport to the park was just over 2 1/2 hours.
"We want to show that using a bike in LA is not only possible but that it can be faster than other modes of transportation," Andranian said.
Many mocked the frenzied language surrounding the closure, especially on Twitter, where Hollywood's comedians had at their hometown.
"How's everyone coping with this terrifying apocalyptic nightmare of having to ... oh my god ... stay home with your family?!!!" Bill Maher wrote.
Albert Brooks took was more philosophical in his Tweet: "If we would close the freeways every weekend we would have a great society."
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