23.8.2011 von dragonX6.

Yesterday the rebels demanded his arrest and that he be brought before the International Court in The Hague. Pro-Gaddafi groups and rebels claim to control almost all of the capital. The NATO bombing and killing of civilians continues. Some media forced to keep silent about the presence of Islamic fundamentalists among the rebels.

Tripoli (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Seif al-Islam, the son of Libyan leader whom the rebels said they had captured and brought before the Hague international tribunal, appeared very early this morning at Rixos hotel in the capital - where are foreign journalists are based- and boasted of His father’s forces ability to win against the rebels, who yesterday claimed the possession of almost all of the city.

In defiance, Seif, 39, considered the heir of the colonel, led some journalists to show them around the pro-Gaddafi militia control of the city. Seif claimed control of 75% of Tripoli, the rebels claim to control 80%.

The appearance of Gaddafi’s son – whom the rebels claimed arrested - has confused most observers.

Overnight a different story spread: that the other son of Gaddafi, Muammar, whom the rebels say had spontaneously surrendered, has now “fled” and no one knows his whereabouts.

Some believe that the ease with which the rebels arrived in Tripoli is suspicious and that the pro-Gaddafi troops have laid a trap to annihilate them.

Yesterday leaders of the U.S., Europe, Australia and even China and Russia – so far resistant to NATO operations in Libya – called on Gaddafi to give up, to surrender and stop a possible “bloodbath”.

NATO has not stopped its bombing and for the past two days some areas of the city continue to be to hit the area of Bab al Aziziah, the Gaddafi fortress and where the Libyan leader, is believed to be hiding. Meanwhile, in various parts of the city there are gunbattles.

According to some journalists in Tripoli, the NATO bombings continue to kill civilians. Some of them have received threats not to mention or report the presence among the rebels, of fundamentalist groups linked to al-Qaeda (see here).

AsiaNews- 08/23/2011 10:09

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23.8.2011 von dragonX6.

Tripolis (Fidesdienst) – „Gegenwärtig sind drei Mitglieder des Franzsikanerordens in ihrem Kloster in Tripolis eingeschlossen. Keiner wagt es auf die Straße zu gehen, denn dort wird geschossen und mein weiß nicht, wer auf wen schießt. Für Zivilsten ist es auf jeden Fall gefährlich, auf die Straße zu gehen“, so Beobachter aus kirchlichen Kreisen, die gestern am späten Abend mit der kleinen Ordensgemeinschaft ein Telefongespräch geführt haben, zum Fidesdienst. In der libyschen Hauptstadt bekämpfen sich weitern Gaddafi-Anhänger und Soldaten der Übergangsberhörde.

„Gegenwärtig sind die Telefonverbindungen unterbrochen und ein Kontakt zu den Ordensleuten ist nicht möglich“, so der Beobachter zum Fidesdienst. „Bei unserem letzten Gespräch wurde uns mitgeteilt, dass in der Nacht vom 21. auf den 22. August auch vor dem Kloster geschossen wurde“.
Ruhiger scheint die Lage für die katholische Glaubensgemeinschaft in Bengasi, wo die Pastoralarbeit regulär stattfindet. „Es gibt keine besonderen Schwierigkeiten bei der Pastoral unter den neuen Behörden. Nur im März und April gab es Probleme mit der öffentlichen Ordnung, aber heute hat die Übergansbehörde wieder die Kontrolle über die Situation“, so der Beobachter zu den Verhältnissen in Bengasi.

Nach Agenturberichten soll es in Tripolis auch in der Nähe der Militäranlage, in der sich die Residenz von Gaddafi befindet, heftige Gefechte geben. (LM)

Fidesdienst, 23/08/2011

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22.8.2011 von dragonX6.

by Simone Cantarini

Thousands of people loyal to Gaddafi could lose everything with his defeat. The sudden fall of Tripoli was due to growing weariness by the Libyan leader and the population. The country could fall in the hands of unscrupulous characters.

Rome (AsiaNews) – “Gaddafi is still alive and will certainly not flee. He wants to become a martyr and will resist until the end,” said Angelo Del Boca, an Italian journalist and historian who is an expert on Libya. Speaking to AsiaNews, he explained that a total war between Gaddafi loyalists and rebels might break out. Many towns and cities around the Gulf of Sirte and other parts of the country in fact remain in loyalist hands. Thousands of people are still pro-Gaddafi and could lose everything with his fall.

Months of air strikes took their toll on government forces around the capital, despite Gaddafi’s calls for resistance till death. For the historian, “a gap in the city’s defences allowed the rebels to enter Tripoli.”

Yesterday night, Libyan government spokesman Ibrahim Moussa warned of a possible “blood bath” if the National Transitional Council (NTC) goes after Gaddafi supporters.

Gaddafi’s fortified compound is still under siege, but there is no news about the Libyan leader whereabouts. Media reports indicate that rebels have met with little resistance. Their sudden appearance in the city broke a long deadlock.

The Italian scholar is particularly concerned about post-Gaddafi’s developments. Libya, in his view, might fall in the hands of unscrupulous characters, former regime members or people tied to Islamic extremism.

Following the announcement of Tripoli’s fall, the NTC told its NATO allies that oil production would be quickly resumed.

“It is hard to know when this war will end,” Del Boca said. “What is certain is that oil was the goal of NATO countries, especially France, and not only the defence of civilians. For sure, Italy will lose much of its expensive investments.”

However, for the historian, some hope comes from various exiled Libyan dissidents and intellectuals, who want real change.

Anwar Fekini, one of Gaddafi’s long-term opponents, is an internationally recognised lawyer who fled to the United States. He supported the resistance from the mountains to the south of Tripoli.

According to the dissident, once fighting is over, preparations for the elections will get underway, insisting that they should be free and without foreign interference.

AsiaNews-08/22/2011 13:52

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22.8.2011 von dragonX6.

Rebels meet little resistance in their advance. The whole city is now under their control, except for Gaddafi’s fortified compound. Right after his arrest, Saif al-Islam is charged with crimes against humanity. Another one of Gaddafi’s sons surrenders. The National Transitional Council pledges to restore oil production. NATO secretary-general says, “the regime is clearly crumbling.”

Tripoli (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Groups of Libyan rebels entered the city of Tripoli. According to some reports, they now control the city, except for Gaddafi’s compound. In Green Square, hundreds of people are celebrating the fall of the strongman’s dictatorship. Many more are doing the same in Benghazi. The National Transitional Council (NTC), the provisional rebel authority, has confirmed that Saif al-Islam, one of Gaddafi’s sons, was captured and his case referred to the International Criminal Court where he could be charged with torture and murdering civilians.

Other reports said that another one of Gaddafi’s sons surrendered, but nothing is known of Gaddafi’s fate. Until a few hours ago, Libya’s leader had appealed to the population of Tripoli to rise up against the rebels.

Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim had said earlier that the Libyan leader was ready to negotiate an immediate ceasefire with NTC Chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil.

The rebels’ entry in the city was quick. It came after months of stalemate, following the start of the civil war seven months ago. Daily NATO bombings downgraded Gaddafi’s military forces.

In a statement, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the “regime is clearly crumbling.”

The NTC announced it was ready to re-establish oil production. Some of the installations were damaged in the war. “We’ve been in talks with Gaz de France, Total, BP, Eni, Qatar Petroleum as well, to help us restore oil production as soon as possible,” an NTC adviser said.

According to the NTC, it will take a week to “clear out” pockets of Qaddafi defenders in the capital.

Some observers believe that thousands of armed pro-Gaddafi loyalists are still in the city. Various reports indicate however that many have already surrendered to the rebels. Others note that fighting is still going on in certain Tripoli neighbourhoods.

AsiaNews-08/22/2011 13:22

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22.8.2011 von dragonX6.

Tripolis (Fidesdienst) – „Die Gefechte und der Kanonenbeschuss halten weiter an. Es ist verheerend“, so einheimische Beobachter aus Tripolis, die aus Sicherheitsgründen um Anonymität bitten.
„Wir wissen nicht wie die Lage sich entwickeln wird, denn momentan begibt man sich in Lebensgefahr, wenn man aus dem Haus geht“, so der Beobachter weiter.
In der libyschen Hauptstadt setzen die Rebellen ihre Offensive fort, während derzeit unklar ist, wo sich Gaddafi aufhält.
Über die Entwicklung der jüngsten Ereignissen berichtet der Beobachter: „Die Rebellen haben ihre Offensive bereits am Freitagabend gestartet. Am Samstag, den 20. August, um 9.00 Uhr morgens haben heftige Kämpfe begonnen, die bis um ein Uhr anhielten. Am Sonntag, den 21. August, wurden die Gefechte wieder aufgenommen und es wurde den ganzen Tag über gekämpft. Die Flugzeuge der Nato haben bis gestern ihre Bombenangriffe fortgesetzt. Vor allem am Samstag während der ersten Stunden der Bodenoffensive waren die Gefechte sehr heftig“. (LM)

Fidesdienst, 22/08/2011

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22.8.2011 von dragonX6.

Tripolis (Fidesdienst) – „Die Situation ist derzeit ruhig, doch wir wissen dass die Rebellen sich in einer Entfernung von etwa 50 Kilometern östlich vor Tripolis befinden“, so ein einheimischer Beobachter aus Tripolis, der aus Sicherheitsgründen anonym bleiben will.

„Wie verschiedene Quellen berichten, wollen die Rebellen noch vor Ende des Fastenmonats Ramadan in Tripolis einmarschieren. Vielmehr sollen sie sogar angekündigt haben, dass sie das Fastenbrechen in der Stadt feiern wollen“, so der Beobachter weiter. Der muslimische Fastenmonat Ramadan geht am kommenden 29. August zu Ende.
„Viele befürchten ein Blutbad. Ein Teil der Bevölkerung hat die Stadt bereits verlassen. Viele die noch da sind ‚warten ab und schauen zu’. Wie Gerüchte besagen, die in der Stadt im Umlauf sind, werden die meisten Menschen jedoch nach einem Einmarsch der Rebellen sich auf deren Seite stellen“, so der Beobachter. „Auf der einen Seite gibt es also Befürchtungen in Hinblick auf mögliche blutige Gefechte. Auf der anderen Seite erwartet man, dass viele Menschen sich nach der Eroberung der Stadt auf die Seite der Rebellen stellen werden“, so der Beobachter zusammenfassend. (LM)

Fidesdienst, 20/08/2011

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21.8.2011 von dragonX6.

Die Spirale der Gewalt in Syrien dreht sich weiter. Am Freitag waren in zahlreichen Städten zehntausende Menschen gegen das Regime von Präsident Baschar al-Assad auf die Straße gegangen. Die syrischen Militärkräfte setzten ihre Offensiven fort, Dutzende Menschen kamen dabei nach Angaben von Menschenrechtlern ums Leben. Unterdessen reißt der Strom syrischer Flüchtlinge in Richtung Türkei und Libanon nicht ab. Kirchenvertreter im In- und Ausland befürchten, es könne zu einem massiven Exodus der Christen aus Syrien kommen. Pater Paul Karam, Direktor der Päpstlichen Missionswerke im Libanon,

beobachtet die Lage von Beirut aus. Er sagte gegenüber Radio Vatikan:

„Es besteht wirklich die Gefahr, dass sich eine Situation einstellt wie im Irak, wo die christliche Gemeinschaft mit massiver Abwanderung auf Terror und Krieg reagiert hat. Wir machen uns um alle christlichen Minderheiten in der Region Sorgen und wünschen uns, dass in den arabischen Ländern Demokratie und Religionsfreiheit umgesetzt werden.“

Jedes Volk hat das Recht auf Freiheit und Gerechtigkeit, kommentiert der Geistliche die Situation der syrischen Opposition. Reformen seien in diesem Sinne eine berechtigte Forderung. Allerdings müssten diese auch tatsächlich im Sinne des Gemeinwohls erfolgen, mahnt Karam:

„Wir glauben an die Freiheit und an Reformen, aber ohne politische und wirtschaftliche Interessen auf Kosten einer schwachen Bevölkerung. Zum Beispiel verlangt niemand in der Internationalen Gemeinschaft Demokratie und Religionsfreiheit in Saudi-Arabien, da gibt es eine Politik der Interessen – über das Erdöl aber spricht niemand. Was steckt wirklich hinter Reformen? Gibt es da tatsächlich Gleichheit? Setzen wir uns an einen Tisch und reden wir drüber. Und beten wir, dass es wirklich Hoffnung und Frieden für die gesamte Region gibt.“

Der UNO-Sicherheitsrat wird sich kommende Woche erneut mit der Gewalt in Syrien beschäftigen. Durch die Sondersitzung soll der Druck auf Machthaber Baschar al-Assad aufrecht erhalten werden. Unterdessen forderte die US-Außenministerin ein Öl- und Gas-Embargo. Hillary Clinton setzt sich ferner für ein Verbot von Waffenverkäufen an Syrien ein.

rv 14.08.2011 p

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12.8.2011 von dragonX6.

Der Weltkirchenrat hat die Konfliktparteien in Syrien zum Gewaltverzicht aufgerufen. Angesichts der zahlreichen Toten müssten Armee und staatliche Sicherheitsbehörden den rücksichtslosen Einsatz von Gewalt gegen Demonstranten beenden. Im Interview mit dem Kölner Domradio spricht Islamwissenschaftler Guido Steinberg (SWP)

 über die verfahrene Lage. Das Assad-Regime sei bereit, bis zur letzten Patrone zu kämpfen.

„Wahrscheinlich wird Assad stürzen müssen. Das Regime hat gegenüber der eigenen Bevölkerung, aber auch gegenüber anderen Staaten in der Region und auch international ganz deutlich gemacht, dass es bereit ist, bis zur letzten Patrone zu kämpfen. Diese Kämpfe werden tatsächlich erst aufhören, wenn das Regime gestürzt oder aber im Land wieder Ruhe eingekehrt ist. Es ist nicht zu erwarten, dass das Assad-Regime irgendeiner Verhandlungslösung zustimmt.“

Mehrere Länder ziehen Ihre Botschafter ab – zuletzt auch Saudi-Arabien.

„Syrien ist schon seit den 1980er Jahren durch sein Bündnis mit dem Iran, was seit heute Bestand hat, in der arabischen Welt mehr oder weniger isoliert. So dass auch diese Maßnahmen keine Auswirkungen haben werden. Es gibt keine Möglichkeit für diese Staaten über ihre Botschafter in Damaskus tatsächlich auf das Regime einzuwirken. Da ist der türkische Vermittlungsversuch schon etwas zielgerichteter, weil vor allem die Wirtschaftsbeziehungen zur Türkei in den letzten Jahren enorm ausgeweitet worden sind. Aber auch den Türken hat Assad sehr deutlich gemacht, dass er nichts von ihren Versuchen der Vermittlung hält.“

Die Mitglieder des UNO-Sicherheitsrates hätten noch eine Möglichkeit, um auf Assad einzuwirken, so Steinberg.

„Da sind in erster Linie die Chinesen, aber auch die Russen, die keine weitergehenden Schritte wünschen. Es ist im Moment so, dass die Amerikaner vor allem auf die Europäer einwirken unilaterale Sanktionen gegenüber Syrien zu ergreifen, die möglicherweise den Öl- und Gassektor betreffen. Da Syrien sehr viel Öl und Gas nach Europa exportiert, wäre das tatsächlich ein probates Mittel. Allerdings, so lange China und Russland nicht tatsächlich voll hinter einer möglichen Resolution stehen, ist da nicht zu erwarten, dass tatsächlich eine Änderung eintritt.“

(domradio 11.08.2011 mg)

RV- 11/08/2011 16.01.49

P.S. Es ist doch einigermaßen verwunderlich, dass zentrale kirchliche Medien in so unkritischer Weise Sprachregelungen der offiziellen Politik wiedergeben, ohne dass Lage und Zeugnisse der Christen des Landes zur Sprache kommen. In einer neueren Sammelpublikation Steinbergs in der SWP werden die Christen Iraks nur beiläufig als „privilegierte“ Gruppe von Exilanten erwähnt.

H.O.

UN stalemate on Syria as Syria admits “some mistakes

US imposes sanctions on Syria and President Assad’s relatives. The latter admits errors by his security forces. For Russian ambassador, Syria’s opposition must take part in reforms, which cannot occur overnight.

Damascus (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The UN Security Council ended a two-hour closed door meeting on Syria without showing any signs that they can overcome their divisions and put an end to the violence in the Mideast country. France, Great Britain and Portugal want Damascus to stop its crackdown, and threaten more sanctions. The soft line pushed by Russia, Brazil, India and South Africa excludes UN sanctions in favour of dialogue.

The 15-member Council opened with a report by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who said that 13,000 people had been arrested since the start of the unrest, more than 3,000 disappeared and at least 2,000 killed.

For the representatives of Western nations, the Council should take further steps if violence is not stopped immediately.

The United States imposed new economic sanctions against Syria, targeting the Commercial Bank of Syria, which has been accused of buying non-conventional weapons abroad and working with a North Korean bank involved in ballistic missile exports.

US sanctions were also imposed on Syriatel, Syria’s main mobile phone company, which is owned by Rami Makhluf, President Bashir al Assad’s cousin.

The Security Council, which is scheduled to meet in a week, will not likely approve sanctions against the Assad regime. Instead, the latter has admitted that its security forces have made “some mistakes” in quelling protests in a meeting with a diplomatic delegation from Brazil, India and South Africa

According to envoys from the three countries, Assad said that he was committed to reform and multiparty democracy. For his foreign minister, “free and fair elections to the Parliament will be held in Syria before end 2011”.

Syria’s old ally, Russia, is equally against the West’s hard-line position. Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said he did not believe sanctions against Syria would be helpful, and that Syria’s opposition must take part in the reform, which cannot however occur overnight.

In Syria, arrests and clashes continued today, even though the Turkish ambassador to Damascus said he had visited Hama, a hotbed of unrest, and had seen the army pullout, following a meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu and President Assad in which the former asked his Syrian host for moderation.

Images of a destroyed minaret in the southern town of Deir ez-Zor (pictured) have appeared online.

According to unverified claims, more people were killed or wounded today, this according to activists.

AsiaNews- 08/11/2011 15:45

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11.8.2011 von dragonX6.

“People are at their wits’ end. Water, power, gas and petrol are in short supply,” an Italian businesswoman said. NATO denies civilian deaths accusations. Meanwhile, the National Transitional Council has fired its executive board and called for a new one. For the businesswoman, the change is just “an internal power struggle”.

Tripoli (AsiaNews) – “It’s a disgraceful situation. NATO continues to bomb and kill to push people to rise up and thus make it easier for rebels. Is this the way to protect and save the population?” said Tiziana Gamannossi, a Tripoli-based Italian businesswoman who spoke to AsiaNews about the latest NATO strike on the village of Majar (south of Zlitan, 160 km from Tripoli) last Tuesday, which according to the Libyan government killed at least 85 civilians.

NATO has denied the allegation, saying that it only struck military targets. A spokesman for Gaddafi’s government stated instead that the dead include 33 children, 32 women and 20 men.

“It is a struggle every day in Tripoli,” Ms Gamannossi said as she described the hardships people face.

 “There are shortages of gas, water and power. The aqueduct, the gas lines and the oil pipeline to the refinery are in rebel control. Valves and pipes have been shut off. A gas cylinder used to cost three dinars, now it is 85. Petrol is in short supply because NATO has imposed a blockade to prevent Gaddafi’s army from using it. But what about the population?”

And that is not all. “Here, plants run on fuel and so are idle. Often, there is no power. There are rotating blackouts as the government shuts supply to this or that neighbourhood,” she said. “Sometimes, we can be without power for three or four days.”

Right now, it is worse, Gamannossi explained, because “It is Ramadan and fridges are full of food. There is little money and people try to buy as much as possible, but with this heat everything is going bad.”

After the killing of rebel leader Abdel Fattah Younes on 28 July, the rebel camp appears in difficulty. National Transitional Council (NTC) President Abdul Jalil sacked its executive board and asked its secretary, Mahmoud Jibril, to pick a new one.

For Gamannossi, this is a “clear sign that they are in difficulty because the three different political factions are involved in the NTC”. It is not a sign of “collapse” but it does signal “a power struggle for leadership; in short, a dirty war.” (GM)

AsiaNews-08/11/2011 16:56

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10.8.2011 von dragonX6.

General Daud Rajhi is greek-orthodox. The Christian world has differing views of the president’s choice. Meanwhile, violence continues in the country. Assad reiterates after talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu: the security forces “will not cease to pursue terrorist groups.”

Damascus (AsiaNews) - International pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad mounted yesterday, when after a lengthy meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, he said that security forces “will not stop pursuing terrorist groups “. And violence continues unabated. Davutoglu termed methods used by Syrian forces “unacceptable”, and repeated that Syria must stop the bloodshed. Amid growing international isolation the Syrian situation will once again be discussed at the United Nations. Meanwhile, Bashar al-Assad has made an unprecedented move.

For the first time in the history of the Syrian regime’s the new defence minister – till now a post reserved for members of the Alawite minority - is a Christian. General Daud Rajhi, who was appointed on August 8, is in fact greek-orthodox (a fact scarcely reported in the international press), on good terms with his Patriarchate, and especially with the auxiliary bishop Luqa Khoury, organizer of a recent ecumenical gathering in favor of the regime. He is the third Christian present current government, there are two Catholic ministers (who, however, do not have a personal relationship with the Church).

This appointment, which in other circumstances would be considered by all as a historical turning point, is evaluated in different ways within the Syrian Christian world. Some, particularly those who prefer not to talk politics, say it is “a good thing.” Others, even among those who want President Bashar al-Assad to remain, say: “It is no good thing that one of ours is in the front line in these times and in such circumstances.” In other words it does not seem a great honour that a Christian has been called to direct the military crackdown against the protesting population. In fact, the propaganda of the Baathist regime has not failed to point out that the appointment of General Rajhi shows that the view that the Alawite group governs the country is false, as is the belief that the Alawite minority monopolizes the armed forces .

As we know, the President is of Alawite origin, but officially he is a Sunni Muslim, as required by the Constitution with regard to the Syrian head of state, because the Sunnis are the largest religious denomination in the country. Hafez al-Assad, father of the president, was born Alawite but became a Sunni to take over the presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic.

The new minister was born in Damascus in 1947, and has been a general since 1998. He was promoted to deputy chief of staff in 2004 and then appointed Chief of the Army June 4, 2009. As minister he takes over from General Ali Habib, an Alawite, who has resigned due to serious health reasons.

AsiaNews-08/10/2011 11:11

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