Libya: Gaddafi vows to fight to the end

Libyan leader says he will not surrender or kneel to enemies as NATO intensifies air strikes in Tripoli.

Switzerland to Prosecute Libya for Taking Hostages

The Swiss government has authorized prosecutors to open criminal proceedings against Libya for allegedly taking two Swiss men hostage following the 2008 arrest in Switzerland of Muammar Qaddafi's son.

Libya: British Special Forces on the ground

According to a report in British newspaper, The Mirror, British special forces troops are on the ground in Libya.

The paper reveals images taken of British SAS troops in Libya. It goes on to reveal that the unit, comprising ex-British special forces soldiers, are employed by a private security firm that is sanctioned by the British government.

The Mirror goes on to say "The elite unit is funded by the MoD via a security firm to topple Colonel Gaddafi."

Britain's Prime Minister, David Cameron, insists no British boots are on the ground in Libya. But a senior military source said: “They’re representing Britain.”

Is this Britain's secret ground war?

Read full story and view photos at The Mirror

Tunisia repels Libyan government troops

TUNIS (15th May): Tunisian forces have repelled a 200-strong force of Libyan government troops that had entered Tunisian territory earlier today.

Tensions have flared on the border in recent weeks as fighting in Libya has spilled over into Tunisia, which is struggling to restore stability after an uprising earlier this year that sparked revolts around the Arab world.

French military contractor killed in Libya

BENGHAZI, Libya — The head and founder of a French military contracting company was killed in an accidental discharge of a weapon in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi as he was arguing about his team getting arrested, a rebel commander said Friday 13th May.

In Paris, the private military company SECOPEX Conseil said Pierre Marziali died Thursday at a Benghazi hospital after being wounded at a checkpoint as he and colleagues were leaving a restaurant overnight.

Marziali, 48, died hours before a planned meeting with the transitional government of rebels fighting Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's forces. He was in Libya to set up a security guard service and a "secure corridor" on the road to Cairo, the company said.

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Libya: Royal Navy destroy shore-based artillery battery

British Royal Navy warship HMS Liverpool destroyed a Libyan shore battery this week which had opened fire on the ship and its helicopter.

Whilst engaged on surveillance operations off the Libyan coast, the ship was tasked to intercept small, high-speed inflatable boats approaching the port of Misurata, suspected of attempting to mine the harbour.

A Libyan artillery battery on the coast fired rockets at HMS Liverpool whereupon she immediately returned fire with her 4.5-inch (11.5cm) gun, silencing the shore-based aggressors. As a result of the prompt action by HMS Liverpool and her fellow NATO vessels, Colonel Gaddafi's boats were forced to abandon their operation.

Libyan refugees rescued after boat sinks

Hundreds of refugees were rescued by Italian coast guards after their boat hit rocks off the island of Lampedusa forcing many, including women and children, to jump into the sea.

Italian coast guards and local fisherman saved all 500 refugees on a boat from Libya early Sunday after their vessel hit rocks off the island of Lampedusa, an operation one rescuer described as a "miracle".

Refugees threw themselves into the water in the night, with some clinging to ropes strung between the rusty fishing boat and the shoreline by rescuers, as officers and local residents dived in to help along the rocky coast.

"There were about 500 people on board. It was a difficult situation. Our patrol boats couldn't come close because of the shallow water and the undertow was very strong," said Antonio Morana, a coast guard spokesman.

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Britain expels Libyan ambassador

Britain has moved to expel Libya's ambassador after the UK embassy in Tripoli was attacked by a mob.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said Omar Jelban was "persona non grata" and had been given 24 hours to leave the country.

Diplomatic missions belonging to a number of Nato states have been targeted after an air strike reportedly killed Muammar Gaddafi's youngest son and three of his grandchildren.

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Libya: missing foreign photographer

The wife of a UK-based photographer missing in Libya has renewed appeals for help in contacting her husband.

Penny Sukhraj said she was desperate for news of Anton Hammerl who is believed to have been seized by Colonel Gaddafi loyalists along with three other journalists on the outskirts of the east Libya oil town of Brega on 5th April.

The 41-year-old - who lives in Surbiton, Surrey, but has South African and Austrian citizenship - is believed to be held separately in or around Tripoli from his captured colleagues.

Mr Hammerl's family has received no word from him since his disappearance although the three other journalists - two US correspondents and one Spanish photographer - were allowed to make a phone call to their families last weekend.

Gaddafi offers truce but not exit

Gaddafi offers truce but not exit - Africa - Al Jazeera English

French blogger wounded in Misrata

A French blogger has been wounded in the neck in Misrata after travelling to Libya to report on the revolt against Moamer Kadhafi, according the Rue89 website which published some of his reports. 

French officials are trying to repatriate the man, named only as Baptiste, after a first operation in Libya.

He was hit by a stray bullet fired by pro-Kadhafi troops on Sunday, although he was not close to the fighting at the time, a group calling itself “Friends of Baptiste” says. They have not made his surname public out of consideration for his family. 

He underwent surgery in Misrata but the French authorities are trying to send him back to France so as to be operated on in more hygienic conditions, they say, adding that the conflict is making the plan difficult.

Baptiste went to Libya as part of a group of French activist-bloggers who covered the Libyan conflict and other uprisings in the Arab world. Rue89 published his account of the battle for Misrata.

UK in Libya 'for the long haul'

The UK "must prepare for the long haul" in Libya, Downing Street has said.

Earlier Foreign Secretary William Hague briefed the cabinet about the situation in Libya.

Number 10 said progress was being made in putting greater pressure on Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and there were "grounds for optimism".

RAF fighter aircraft "successfully attacked" three armoured personnel carriers near the besieged city of Misrata over the weekend.

But a spokeswoman for the prime minister said: "We must prepare for the long haul."

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Kuwait gives $180m to Libyan rebels

Kuwait City - Kuwait on Sunday gave $180m to the Libyan opposition Transitional National Council (TNC), its chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil said.

"This amount will help us pay part of the salaries of employees," Jalil told reporters after talks with Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah. "We are in need of urgent assistance."

Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah said "Kuwait will provide large and urgent humanitarian aid through the national council."

Sheikh Mohammad said Kuwait and the TNC "will work closely so that it becomes the legitimate channel of the Libyan people", but stopped short of officially recognising the council.

Source: news24

Italy to join Libya bombing missions

Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi has approved the use of his country's air force in Nato's Libya mission.

Italy was ready to allow its jets to take "targeted military action", he said in a statement.

Earlier, a Nato air strike badly damaged buildings in Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi's compound in Tripoli.

Mr Berlusconi announced the decision after a telephone call with US President Barack Obama, and would also call other European leaders to brief them personally, said his statement.

Italy had previously said it would not take part in Nato-led air strikes, citing its 40-year colonial rule of Libya.

Read full story at BBC