See also: » 29.01.2013 - Libya peace very fragile, warns UN » 31.03.2011 - Libya's Foreign Minister defects » 24.03.2011 - How cyber-activism lent savvy to North African protests » 18.03.2011 - Ten nations ready to attack Ghaddafi regime » 18.03.2011 - Africa defies AU chief's support for Ghaddafi » 18.03.2011 - France: We can start bombing Libya tonight » 17.03.2011 - Libya rebels shoot down fighter jets » 15.03.2011 - Ghaddafi thanks Germany, Russia and China Houlihan's coupons

Finn autentiske matoppskrifter fra hele verden på Verdensmat.no: Gazpacho Børek Kartoffelsalat Taboulé Gulasj Albóndigas Cevapi Rougaille Japrak sarma Zwiebelbrot Klopse Giouvetsi Paella Pljeskavica Pica pau Pulpo a la gallega Flammkuchen Langosj Tapenade Chatsjapuri Pasulj Lassi Kartoffelpuffer Tortilla Raznjici Knödel Lentejas Bœuf bourguignon Korianderchutney Brenneslesuppe Proia Sæbsi kavurma Sardinske calamares

Autentiske matoppskrifter fra hele verden finner du på Verdensmat.no: Réunion Portugal Aserbajdsjan Serbia Tyskland Seychellene Bosnia Spania Libanon Belgia India Kroatia Hellas Italia Ungarn Komorene Georgia Mauritius Østerrike Romania Frankrike

Residents in Misrata, Libya's third largest city, yesterday celebrated "liberation"

© Anonymous/afrol News

afrol News, 27 February - As protests go on in the Libyan capital Tripoli, the regime is now only in control of a few neighbourhoods in the city. Except Sirte and the Sabha Oasis, the entire country is in the protesters' hands.

Renewed fighting in some Libyan cities yesterday and today has eliminated the last pro-regime resistance, local sources report. The revolution therefore has consolidated its firm grip on Misrata, Libya's third largest city, and Zawija, located only 50 kilometres west of Tripoli.

Also in Tripoli, most neighbourhoods are now under control of the protesters, despite occasional - but steadily fewer - attacks from armed forces. Especially working class neighbourhoods, such as Fashloom and Souk Juma, now are trying to consolidate their victories against pro-Ghaddafi troops.

Tripoli suburb Tajura, also a district dominated by workers and the lower middle class, now seems firmly in control of the protesters, except for the occasional short attacks from armed units. Tajura has been the main entrance to Tripoli protesters from outside the capital, reinforcing the protest movement.

Even Tripoli International Airport is only partly under the regime's control, with an increasing number of reports speaking of a complete chaos at the airport. Protesters however have shown restraint in the airport area, allowing for foreigners to evacuate the country.

Central Tripoli remains a battle zone, with waves of protesters sudenly appearing, until vehicles with pro-regime forces hunt them down shooting with live ammunition. None of the parties therefore is in control of most parts of the city.

The only parts of Tripoli firmly under the regime's control are some military bases and the upper class residential area where also the Ghaddafi family lives. Other residents in this neighbourhood have

Residents of Tripoli's working class district Fashloom for the core of protesters in the capital

© Anonymous/afrol News

reported that they would want to participate in the protests, but that streets are constantly guarded by armed troops.

The few areas under the regime's control now seem like fortresses, temporarily protecting the regime from its unavoidable collapse. "Ghaddafi is turning into the dictator without a land," Germany's journal 'Der Spiegel' commented.

Outside these few parts of Tripoli, there are only two laces still mostly in control of the regime. This especially includes the coastal city of Sirte, the birth-place of Colonel Ghaddafi. Protesters in Sirte last week had taken control of the city, but were later driven back by troops loyal to the regime.

Sirte is a strategic city on the route between the "liberated" east of Libya and Tripoli. The regime's control over Sirte prevents forces from "liberated" Benghazi from reaching Tripoli and keeps forces in nearby Misrata on high alert over possible attacks, thus also preventing them from helping to "liberate" Tripoli.

The last region still mostly loyal to the Ghaddafi regime is the Fezzan in the south-western desert part of the country. This isolated Berber and nomad region, with a significant part of Libya's oil resources, so far has been mostly calm. However, there have been unconfirmed reports of some unrest in the Sabha Oasis and Ghadames today, challenging the regime.

Especially the Sabha Oasis, the largest settlement in the vast Fezzan region, is seen as important to the Ghaddafi regime, as its military base and airport is said to regularly fly in "mercenaries" - or kidnapped sub-Saharan Africans - to the capital.

By staff writers

© afrol News

Tweet

Printable version

On the Afrol News front page now

Rwanda

Rwanda succeeds including citizens in formal financial sector afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda. Read more

Famine warning: "South Sudan is imploding" afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries. Read more

Guinea

Panic in West Africa after Ebola outbreak in Guinea afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease. Read more

Ethiopia

Ethiopia tightens its already strict anti-gay laws afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared. Read more

Ethiopia

Ethiopia plans Africa's biggest dam afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries. Read more