Is Tripoli crumbling?

[Askari Kanzu]

I am monitoring a sudden surge of tweets indicating that something unusual is taking place in Tripoli right now. One interesting tweet is claiming that Musa Ibrahim, the Foreign Ministry spokesman has quit his post:

1. derekd66 "@elpasolibre: #Tripoli: The official spokeman for the Foriegn Ministry, Musa Ibrahim, has left the regime. #Libya #feb17"

And as if that is not enough, Reuters is reporting an uprising against Gaddafi in Tripoli suburbs:

2. (Reuters TUNIS | Mon May 9, 2011 4:33pm EDT) - Libyan rebels are leading an uprising in the suburbs of Tripoli after being supplied with light weapons by defecting security service officers, an opposition newspaper said on Monday.

The story quoted witnesses who said a full-scale uprising against the rule of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was taking place in the suburbs of Tripoli. It said protesters were preparing to head toward the city center.

In an update:
3. 11:05pm: Al-Jazeera Arabic reports that the rebels have raised the Independence flag above Mitiga Air Force Base in Tripoli.

The above, if true, definitely add a new twist to the ongoing Libyan crisis!

 

[Askari Kanzu]

Updates:

Nr. 1 above seems to be premature. A tweet from Christian Fraser (a BBC journalist staying at Rixos Hotel) claims to have seen Musa Ibrahim in the Hotel lobby tonight:

@ForeignCorresp Christian Fraser
We asked him (Musa Ibrahim) if he was giving a presser tonight - he was in a meeting - he said "do you want a presser tonight?" no sign he was leaving

Whatever the case, something is happening tonight in Tripoli with reports of fighting and shouting!

@malvernchela: Thrilling news that #Tripoli may be rising up, but must be cautious, not let our enthusiasm run away before we confirm facts. #Libya #feb17

 

[Askari Kanzu]

NATO airstrikes hit Tripoli
The Associated Press

Posted: May 10, 2011 1:19 AM ET
Last Updated: May 10, 2011 3:01 AM ET

Members of the media film near a damaged building at the High Commission for Children, which the Libyan government said was caused by coalition air strikes in Tripoli on Tuesday. Louafi Larbi/Reuters

NATO warplanes struck Tripoli early Tuesday in the heaviest bombing of the Libyan capital in weeks, hours after an uptick in fighting between rebels and Moammar Gadhafi's forces on a long deadlocked front line in the country's east.

Overnight, NATO warplanes struck at least four sites in Tripoli, setting off crackling explosions that thundered through the Libyan capital.

One strike hit a building that local residents said was used by a military intelligence agency. Another targeted a government building that officials said was sometimes used by parliament members.

It was not immediately clear what the other two strikes hit, but one of them sent plumes of smoke over the city. Libyan officials would not say what that strike hit but the smoke appeared to come from the sprawling compound housing members of Gadhafi's family.

Between explosions, an aircraft dropped burning flares. Some residents responded by raking the sky with gunfire and beeping their horns.

 

[Askari Kanzu]

NATO launches airstrike on Libyan capital

Uploaded by AlJazeeraEnglish on 9 May 2011

 

[Ndahani]

Ghadafi might go but Libya may also begin the long journey of civil unrests as a result of unprepared leadership change.Iraq kwani ilikuwaje?

 

[Askari Kanzu]

Ghadafi might go but Libya may also begin the long journey of civil unrests as a result of unprepared leadership change...

You are right. Post-Ghadafi unrest is inevitable, but it is hard to predict the outcome as for now!

 

[Mpevu]

Where is Muammar Ghaddafi at the moment, in Tripoli or...?

 

[Askari Kanzu]

Musa Ibrahim, msemaji wa wizara ya mambo ya nje Libya bado yuko Tripoli, tofauti na minong'ono iliyozagaa kwamba amekimbia!



Tripoli is a free, liberated, safe city. You can go and drive around anywhere you want in Tripoli. Tripoli is as calm as a city can be. This is all nonsense. It is lies shaped and invented by Al-Jazeera, and we know the reason why. They want to give some hope to NATO and the rebels in the east - Musa Ibrahim.

 

[Nonda]

Where is Muammar Ghaddafi at the moment, in Tripoli or...?

Sasa anaelewa kuwa yeye ni target kwa hiyo he keeps low profile.
Jana kuna member aliripoti kuwa Gaddafi alionekana akifarijiwa baada ya kifo cha mtoto wake,Saif.Ni wazi kuwa yupo Tripoli.

 

[Askari Kanzu]

Picha za Tripoli baada ya mabomu ya NATO 10 May 2011

In this photo taken on a government organized tour, Libyan soldier and a civilian attempt to conduct traffic following an airstrike in Tripoli, Libya, early Tuesday, May 10, 2011.


Libyan government officials and the media move through ruins of an official building following an air strike

A general view of a damaged building at the High Commission for Children

People walk under a ceiling, which the Libyan government said was damaged during a NATO strike, at a hospital in Tripoli

-Picha zote toka Reuters