Brisk business for flag sellers
7.20pm, March 8: The business of Monarchy flags is booming. A number of youths park their cars by the courthouse and sell flags to passersby. The cost of making one flag is 0.15 Libyan dinars. They are selling for 5 dinars. In the past three days they have sold 600. In the past 20 days they have sold “thousands”. Asked how business was, one of the youths smiled and said: “Alhamdulillah. Very good”.
'Lies' being broadcast
4.41pm, March 8: Officials from major international human rights organisations in Benghazi say they are very frustrated at the "lies" being broadcast by major pan-Arab news channels. Two of the top channels yesterday said that a missile fired by Gaddafi loyalists struck a civilian vehicle killing an entire family. The official said she spoke to the family and it turned out the missile fell at a distance from the family, scratching the father. The official said such false information heightened tensions and increased the likelihood of violence.
Race row
1.21pm, March 8: There are many black Libyans from the south of the country living in Benghazi. They have come under special attention because many of the alleged mercenaries hired by the Gaddafi regime to quash the rebellion have come from African countries. Many black Libyans therefore wear the monarchy flag, that has been adopted by the rebels, very prominently. Most strap the flag around their arms or stick them on their cars.
A number of scuffles have broken out with non-black Libyans calling black Libyans traitors and a fifth column. The black Libyans always retaliate, feeling insulted by other Libyans questioning their loyalty to the rebellion. There is a lot of anti-Black prejudice in Benghazi because of the mercenaries. Some of the graffiti on the wall reflects that, and many residents of Benghazi refer to the Gaddafi side as "a bunch of slaves", 'abeed' in Arabic, referring to black people.
There is also an attempt by Libyans to delegitimise Gaddafi loyalists by referring to them as "African foreigners". We have found that while many of those fighting for Gaddafi are indeed black, they are not necessarily foreigners. Many are in fact Libyans.
Graffiti everwhere
6pm, March 7: Many intellectual types in Benghazi scoff at claims that Libya had almost wiped out illiteracy. They point to the graffiti that's all over walls in the city. A lot of the graffiti slogans in Arabic are spelled incorrectly. Very few people in Libya speak foreign languages, including English.
Nationalistic messages broadcast
2pm, March 7: Radio stations in Benghazi broadcast Voice of the Arabs-style morale boosting nationalistic messages aimed at the youth between nationalistic Arabic songs associated with the independence movements in Palestine, Lebanon and Egypt that have become symbolic in the entire region. Lots of Fairouz also being played on the radio.
Soldiers 'executed'
12:20pm, March 7: There is word that at least twenty soldiers were "executed" in Bin Jawad by mercenaries two days ago after refusing to fire on the rebels. It is not known yet who they were, but it is said they were all from the same tribe.
12pm, March 7: There appears to be a major shortage of phone credit in eastern Libya. Benghazi residents say they haven't been able to find top-up cards or are finding them for double or triple the price.
8pm, March 6: It appears as though the rebels are now in a phase of trying to capture territory where the residents are actually supportive of Gaddafi. Word is that many of those involved in fighting the rebels were residents. Some are now calling them traitors, others are saying they were paid or threatened to be punished if they don’t fight the rebels. This may just be a new phase in this conflict
7.13pm, March 6: Most of the casualties at Ras Lanuf hospital are from the adjacent town of Bin Jawad, where there was an intense battle yesterday. According to rebels, the town’s residents pledged allegiance to the rebels and let them pass, later to besiege them. Gaddafi forces then came in from the sea and attacked them. The hospital saw 10 injuries and two deaths from Bin Jawad today. One of the injured was a French cameraman who was allegedly shot in the leg.
7.09pm, March 6: In Ras Lanuf, rebels broadcasted messages from mosques calling on the people to defend their town if it comes under attack.
7.08pm, March 6: Doctors have confirmed that at least one ambulance was targeted by forces loyal to Gaddafi, and burned. Most of the ambulances have stuck the old monarchy flag on their wind screens to show where their allegiance lies. The doctor said that could be counter productive “but is necessary sometimes because we need to know where they are coming from”
7.05pm, March 6: Doctors at Ras Lanuf hospital say it is not equipped for operations and can only do first aid and resuscitation. There is a major shoertage of nurses since most were foreigners and have left. Medical students have come to help from Benghazi. A Libyan American neurosurgeon who has come from the US to volunteer had to operate on a fighter who was shot in the head without the necessary equipment. He said the fighter showed a victory sign as he was wheeled in on a stretcher despite having a severe head injury with his brain leaking out.
7.03pm, March 6: The sole nurse at Ras Lanuf hospital, a Romanian, says Libya was there for her when she had no job, money or food and now she is returning the favour by staying. “I will never leave. I’m needed here.”
7.02pm, March 6: Ras Lanuf appears to be under the control of the rebels. Monarchy flags have been raised everywhere
7.01pm, March 6: Rebels say that they have received orders to stay put and not proceed further west from Abu Jawad 50 km away because they “want to avoid a massacre”. Wadi Ahmar, about 100 km from Ras Lanuf is still under the control of Qaddafi loyalists.
Rebels say that forces loyal to Gaddafi have entered homes in Bin Jawad, armed the men and told them to shoot at proceeding rebels. They have allegedly threatened to harm their families “if a single bullet is left in the guns”
4.14pm, March 6: Many armed rebels have mobilised at Ras Lanouf. They complain that they don’t have heavy weapons and are in desperate need of them. There seems to be a structure and some planning now. All are under the command of a retired colonel. They won’t say whose command he is under “because he is a target”.
3.05pm, March 6: Hundreds of fighters are heading west to protect Ras Lanuf and claim more territory.
2.07pm, March 6: The further west cars move the more there is a need to display one's allegiance. People have huge stickers of the old Libyan monarchy flag stuck on their cars, the flag that the rebels have now adopted.
2.03pm, March 6: We just crossed Ajdabiya which appears to be entirely in the hands of the rebels. The rebels are mobilising in the desert and have a heavier presence with tanks and RPGs than earlier. They appear to be expecting trouble and are preparing.
12.55pm, March 6:: There is a bit of confusion in Benghazi on whether or not some cities have been taken by Gaddafi loyalist forces as state TV has reported. But since everyone has a satellite dish they can confirm that the reports are false. Libyans watch state tv for what they call "entertainment value".
Last night a Libyan saw a female anchor and laughed at her "lies". I asked if she would be punished if Tripoli fell to the rebels and he said: "No. Not at all. People know she's being forced to do this. We need to forgive such people"
12.48pm, March 6:: It only seems to be a matter of time until the conflict here is referred to as a civil war. Human rights organisations say casualties on the rebel side can no longer be considered crimes against humanity if they are armed. They say there are combatants on both sides.
Based on what I've seen, the rebel side is very, very well armed and has very sophisticated weaponry, possibly balancing the capabilities of the Gaddafi loyalists. What they don't have, and probably need to win in this war, is a command structure. Some of the people handling the weapons just shrug when I ask them who they get their orders from. They just shoot when they see danger coming.
12.42pm, March 6: Officials from human rights organisations we speak to say that Friday's explosion at the Rajma weapons depot near Baneena airport was not caused by an attack by Gaddafi forces but possibly a mishap inside the depot. She said that there was no crater found but there were signs of a fire having started, "possibly because of sabotage". I was at the depot Thursday afternoon. We entered the compound and an official there ran to us and shouted for us to leave immediately saying the area was "very sensitive".
Flags aflutter
1pm, March 6: Saw a lone protester in Benghazi carrying a Bahraini flag. I asked him if he knew which country's flag it was and he said Bahrain. Then he leans over and says: "To be honest, I was looking for a Qatari flag and thought this was it." For those who don't know, the two flags look almost the same, except for the colour difference.
Benghazi security situation worrying
5:10pm March 5:The security situation in Benghazi does not appear to be under control as the interim government would like us to think.
With over 2,000 prisoners having escaped with most of their criminal records burned with the courthouse, we are hearing more and more reports of muggings - with the targets being journalists.
I spoke to a spokesperson of the interim government on Thursday, who told me he only had one report of a mugging. He said the eastern Libyan government was keeping tabs on crime and was urging people to report them. The impression given was that the government was under control.
But we heard at least three more reports of muggings yesterday. The latest one involved two Norwegian reporters who got mugged by teens with knives just as they drove into Benghazi from Cairo, about a 12-hour drive.
The reporter lost $4,000, a laptop and all his equipment. He's heading straight back to Norway.
His story indicated that he might have been sold by his driver. The reporters did not take the taxi driver's name, number or number plate. If the driver was indeed involved, he is likely to drive right back to the Egypt border to pick up his next victim.
I suggested to reporter that he call the interim government's emergency number that is posted at the headquarters to report such incidents, but there was no answer.
A few residents of Benghazi have said that they have heard of a number of muggings.
It appears that the interim government either knows about the crime incidents in the city, and is intentionally trying to give the impression that it is under control, or it simply does not know.
I'm not sure which of the two would be more worrying for Benghazi residents.
Warehouse bombing tactical
12.18am March 5: The military warehouse in Benghazi that was bombed is huge and has very tight security, more than any other. It was likely bombed because it is believed to have the kind of weapons that could more or less balance the military capabilities of the rebels with that of Gaddafi. When we went there yesterday, we saw a lot of that military equipment being transferred out in trucks. The rebel forces may have lost many weapons there but they seem to have saved a significant number too.
Norwegian journalist mugged in Benghazi
11.20pm March 4: A Norwegian journalist who had just arrived in Benghazi by road from Cairo was mugged by youth with knives, as his car approached the hotel. He lost $4,000, a Mac laptop, camera and equipment.
Sandstorms slow down ambulances
9.55pm March 4: Many ambulances seen rushing to the West of Libya, probably from Benghazi. They have been slowed down significantly due to severe sandstorms on the road connecting Benghazi to the Western town of Ajdabiya. The visibility is about two metres.
Showing off weaponry
8.28pm March 4: They have many weapons here. A 24-year-old with an RPG on his shoulder said he and his brothers are all going to Ras Lanoof to help. A truck carrying grad missiles with a 12km range showed up five minutes later. They're making it a point to show off their weapons.Residents cheer rebel convoy.
8.02pm March 4:Hundreds of cars carrying heavy weapons and ammunitions are crossing into Ajdabiya headed westwards, being greeted and cheered by hundreds of residents as they cross the town's gates.
Ajdabiya in rebel hands
6.54pm March 4: At the outskirts of Ajdabiya there are tanks, anti-aircraft guns and rocket launchers being manned by about 200 rebel soldiers. Ajdabiya is four towns from Gaddafi held territory in the west and one town from Brega, a strategic oil city.
Brega is a ghost town today after it was bombed yesterday. It is said that thousands of fighters have been mobiliaed here to protect the city and advance to Ras Nanoof and then to Sirte.
Aerial attack on refineries
6.43pm March 4: A guard at a check point by the oil refineries in Brega said he saw the aerial attack yesterday: "It seemed like the pilot avoided the sensitive areas on purpose. He hit the desert area. Either he had compassion and didn't want to kill his own people or they were trying to intimidate us into leaving so they can take over the oil facilities that are in our hands."
Ras Lanoof taken by rebels
6:01pm, March 4: Rebel leaders in Brega say that Ras Lanoof to the West has been taken by rebels.
Mercenaries on the run
5:41pm, March 4: Rebel soldiers at a check point in Brega say the town is in the hands of the rebels but there are some of those loyal to Gaddafi that have infiltrated
"and are being dealt with."
There are two mercenaries in Brega who have escaped in the desert, they say.
The rebel soldiers have closed off the entire area and are searching for them.
Teen killed by Gaddafi loyalist forces
5:19pm, March 4: Thirteen-year-old Hussain lost his twin brother Hassan when he and he was grazing the family's animals with his twin brother, his seven-year-old
brother Fraj and his father.
Forces loyal to Gaddafi came in and started "shooting randomly". Hassan died on the way to the hospital and Fraj had a bullet enter through his face and lodge in his cheek.
Hussain's eyes will fill tears as he speaks about his dead twin brother but his face is
expressionless. "My father tried to protect us but my brother died."
Protests to follow prayers
2:30pm, March 4: The area is filling up for Friday prayers which will be followed by a massive protest.
Roads leading to it are closed by men in military gear and uniformed policemen. Ex-military men also guard the area with anti aircraft guns.
"This can cause significant damage to an aircraft if it flies close enough. We're ready and prepared," one tells me.
There are reportedly 12,000 rebel fighters in Brega, expecting to advance westwards to Sirte, Gaddafi's stronghold.
'Egypt and Libya stand together'
2:00pm, March 4: I'm at the courthouse area in Benghazi where the interim governments headquarters are. A huge aid convoy of trucks has arrived from Egypt. People are chanting that Egypt and Libya stand together.
The area is filling up for Friday prayers which will follow a massive protest. Roads leading to it are closed by men in military gear and uniformed policemen. Ex-military men also guard the area with anti aircraft guns.
"This can cause significant damage to an aircraft if it flies close enough. We're ready and prepared," one tells me.
Egyptians playing a vital role in Libyan rebellion
1:25pm, March 4: Egyptians are playing small but vital roles in the Libyan rebellion against Muammar Gaddafi’s rule.
Most of the 1.5 million or so Egyptians living in Libya are reported to have left, but a significant few have stayed back and vowed to participate in the revolution. After successfully ousting their own long term ruler, Egyptians in Libya say they feel the need to pass on the torch.
One of Benghazi’s hotels provides free internet access to all journalists, whether or not they live in the hotel. There is a meeting room where journalists gather to type away on their keyboards.
Adjacent to the meeting room is another office that functions almost round-the-clock like a control-room to ensure smooth access to the
internet.
The entire operation is run by a short, geeky-looking Egyptian whose glasses sit on the bridge of his nose. The Egyptian looks for alternative ways to connect to the internet every time the Gaddafi regime tries to block it. He says he will struggle with the Libyan people in their revolution “until the end” – in his own geeky way.
”I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying in Libya. This is my revolution too,” he says.
In Bayda, a city on the Jabel Akhdar, or Green Mountain plateau, rebel youths speak of the unsaid Egyptian hero. Everyone has heard of him but not many have seen him. He was the only man who knew how to operate a tank belonging to forces loyal to Gaddafi after rebels defeated them.
”We took control of the barracks and the weapons that were inside, but no one knew how to operate the tanks. An Egyptian worker turned up saying he used to be a soldier in the Egyptian army. He drove the tank and showed others how to operate it,” says Ali, a twenty year old Bayda resident.
Egyptians are everywhere in the city. A large number of the Arabic language journalists, the aid workers and representatives of international organisations here are Egyptian.
An Egyptian journalist says the only thing that keeps her going “in a city as boring as Benghazi” is the revolutionary spirit of the Libyans that she is in awe of.
Across from Benghazi’s courthouse by the corniche, makeshift tent-clinics stand with large Egyptian flags flying above them. Young Egyptian doctors there have treated hundreds of wounded and sick rebels. Many took it upon themselves to collect donations and medical aid, group together and make their way to Benghazi by road.
”We’re not working for anyone. We just decided to come here ourselves. Now that our revolution is over, it’s time for us to work on this one,” said one of the doctors.
Fireworks over Benghazi
3.10am, March 3: Massive fireworks over Benghazi, presumably to celebrate the retaking of Brega by rebel forces. When they started at about 12am, all the journalists in the coffee shop at our hotel rushed outside to check if it was an airstrike. They were pleasantly surprised, and perhaps a little bit disappointed, hoping to get a good story.
A fifth column in the interim government?
1.58am, March 3: As I was leaving easten Libya's recently formed interim government office at by the courthouse at the corniche with three other journalists, a young doctor approached us, with government credentials hangingfrom his neck. He spoke in clear English, a rarity in Libya, asking us if we wanted a story.
He said he knew of a place where there was looting and stealing going on that very minute. "It's five minutes away," he said. "I can take you in my car". We agreed.
As we walked to the car, we realised that his opinions significantly differed from those of other revolutionaries. He wasn't very confident about the success of the revolution and kept saying it was bound to fail. I had second thoughts about entering the car with him, and so did two of the other journalists I was with.
But as he opened his car door, I noticed the box of medicine he said he had been using to treat injured people. Noticing our apprehension, he said not to worry about being out so late after dark. "I have a special yellow number plate".
"What does that mean," I asked.
"That I'm a government official," he said.
"Qaddafi government?"
"No, the new government"
"The new government has already issued new number plates? It was formed just days ago,"
"Yes. Of course it has," he said.
As I sat in the car, I looked around for weapons and didn't find any. I made sure to block the glove compartment firmly with my knee in case he decided to reach for it. I had a very bad feeling about this.
We drove for about twenty minutes to outside the city, despite him saying that the shop was only five minutes away.
On the way, his views on the revoltion became clear. "It's going to fail. I can guarantee that. The people that are running this so called revoltion are corrupt to the core. They are in it for the money and power."
"Do you support Qaddafi," I asked.
"I didn't before. But I do now. I don't say it because I'll get killed for it, and so will my family, but the fact is that there are murders and burglaries going on. People's properties are being confiscated at gun point. This is not a revolution. This is thuggery," he said.
As we drove on, the radical nature of his views on the revolution and its leadership became clearer.
He drove round and round and ended up on a dark street. He pulled in in front of a large metal gate and sounded the car horn. About six youths slid open the gate, holding AK47s, their faces covered in kafiyyahs.
Beyond the gate, I could see barren land with a few small buildings in the middle. At that point, all four of us in the car decided we did not want to continue. A female journalist even went as far as opening the door.
I politely apologized to the doctor and asked him to turn back. He protested. Tensions rose. I repeated the request, this time raising my voice. I got the feeling that he was trying to signal for the guards to move out of the way so he could accelerate into the compound against our wills. He wanted to discuss. I demanded that he put the car in reverse, getting ready to do it myself if he did not comply.
He then obliged us and I agreed to talk about it. I apologized again and asked him to understand that we were not comfortable going in considering the current conditions and that we were not familiar with the city. He looked disappointed, but agreed to take us home.
Aside from the volatile security situation in Benghazi, the experience highlighted the fact that there are people strongly opposed to the interim government with full clearance to walk the halls of its offices and overhear its meetings.
I am not alone in thinking that there is more than meets the eye about some of the people we meet in Benghazi.Other journalists and aid workers I have spoken to also say they have had experienceswhich lead them to questionwho is trustworthy.
There could be afifth column roaming the streets of Benghazi and the halls of the interim government's offices that may just be waiting to surface if or when Qaddafi loyalistsdecide to retake the city. And that is likely to be very messy.
Battle in Brega kills two
22.25, 02 March: Just spoke to an injured fighter who was wheeled into Jalaa' hospital after a battle in Brega, which is again under the control of the rebels. He was in a group of five. Two others died, another one was injured and one more is missing. "Their morale is high but they need weapons," he said, referring to the rebels there.
Nurses at the hospital say they are preparing for a crisis situation as more injured fighters from Brega are expected to come in.
Clean slate for escapees?
I'm at the interim government's media office, getting accreditation. I was the 496th journalist they've registered. One of the spokespeople for the interim government says out of the more than 2,000 prisoners that have escaped none have been caught and it will be difficult to find them because most of their criminal records were burned when the courthouse was burned.
Son of former envoy wants end to Gaddafi's regime
When the revolutionaries opened the secret prison on February 21, they found a number of handcuffed soldiers. They say they were the ones who had refused orders to shoot at the protesters.
I have just spoken to the son of the former ambassador of Libya to Malta. He said when he was 15, the Gaddafis visited Malta. He saved then 8-year-old Saif Gaddafi from drowning. Muammar Gaddafi found out and sent him a truck load of toys. Today, he calls on foreign forces to bomb his house and end his regime.
The courthouse area by the corniche in Benghazi is like a mini Al Tahrir square. There are makeshift tent clinics, a martyrs wall, “freedom tea” and date stalls, and tanks on the street
I spoke to a man, Ebrahim, who was standing by a wall with names of those missing from earlier Libyan uprisings in 1994 and 2001. He said that information about some of them and their burial places is slowly surfacing as people go through the documents taken from the ransacked internal security building.
Ebrahim’s brother was killed in prison in 1996 and he and his family lives through more than a decade of intimidation by the regime. He said he was shocked to find a full profile on his and his family’s life and movements.
I’m at a secret underground detention centre in Benghazi at the headquarters of the state security apparatus.
The entrance is a small cube-structure that leads to a 8m wide tunnel that runs about 40m deep into a dungeon-like dark detention room of about 10m by 20m with where it is said that political prisoners were held and tortured before being transferred to Bu Sleem prison outside Tripoli.
I have a guide, Ebrahim, who says his own brother was held at the prison before being transferred and eventually killed. “Its very difficult for me to see this knowing he could have been here. I can’t imagine what he could have gone through. I tremble when I see this,” he says.
Heavy rebel casualties reported in fight for Tripoli
I'm also told that out of the hundreds of fighters who tried to go to Tripoli to support the rebellion against Gaddafi’s rule there, 80 returned after encountering heavy fighting from forces loyal to Gaddafi. Many others are said to have died.
I'm at Baneena airbase which is in the control of the revolutionaries and cooperating with the transitional national council. A colonel here says the next 72 hours are sensitive. Asked if they are expecting an attack, he said: "Let's just hope not".
People here say that a crisis that is more likely is one of labour. Libyan businesses depend very heavily on foreign labour, and many services have stopped as a result of foreigners leaving, and many shops are closed. Local journalists and observers here say this is likely to have a significant affect on the economy
Baby milk shortage possible
A coordinator for a major international health organisation says the fears about a food shortage in Libya may be exaggerated. "A lot of food is produced locally. The only possible shortage is in baby milk, vegetables and rice, which is imported from Egypt or comes from western Libya. Besides, there is an enormous amount of aid that is coming through Egypt that seems to be sufficient. He said if there is going to be a shortage the time frame for that will be longer than the two weeks initially estimates. On the looming crisis with those waiting at Benghazi port to flee Libya, he said he was going to assess it today and believes it will only be solved when an international organisation intervenes or another government takes the responsibility of evacuating them.
The transitional national council has instructed hundreds of youth to act as voluntary guards for foreigners in Benghazi after two journalists got mugged at gunpoint. Teens in military uniform take the journalists wherever they want to go
Just met Libyan revolutionary Omar Al Mukhtar’s 90 year old ailing son Mohammad. He said he supports the revolutionaries but refused to criticise Gaddafi. Asked if he expected to see the Libyan people revolt in his lifetime, he said: "I was expecting this to happen, but I expected it to happen earlier". Asked what he thought of Gaddafi’s exploiting of his father’s image, he refused to comment
Asked if he supported the revolutionaries adopting the monarchy flag he said yes. I also asked him if he has ever played a political role and he said "no and I never wanted to, and was never asked to". He also stressed that the capital of the country is Tripoli.
Benghazi port flooded with people waiting to leave
I'm at Benghazi port where there are thousands of people waiting to leave the country, mostly Syrian and Algerian. There are two huge cruise liner-type ships waiting here, one of which has just arrived.
A man in full military uniform guarding the port says he takes his orders from the new interim "peoples' government" led by former justice minister Mustafa Abdul Jalil. "It doesn't matter if this government has credibility or authority to rule over us," he says. "This is all we have now and for now we need to put our support behind it. We'll deal with issues of credibility when the situation calms down". He said he used to be in the military in the eighties. Asked where he got his military uniform he said he was borrowing it from his younger brother
At Benghazi port there is strict security. The entrances are manned by former soldiers who say they are volunteering and don't get paid.
There are a lot of sensitivities with Algerians here. Some are telling other Algerians not to speak to the media. The reason is that there is some anti Algerian sentiment in Libya based on rumours that the Algerian government is supporting Gaddafi. A number of scuffles by the ship as people try to board it. Many Algerians say they are leaving because they have been out of jobs and are completely out of money and food. Some here are very poor.
Algerians here are making it clear that they are with the revolting people of Libya. "We are brothers! We will stand by the Libyan people till death! We're just sending our wives and children home but we will stay in Libya"
It will be a 40 hour ride from here to Algeria. The ship is taking 310 people. But there are definitely more than 310 people waiting here. Tensions are likely to flare if some are not let in to the ship
Lots of tension here since some can't get on. Small demonstrations. People demanding to be able to board, especially those that came from Tripoli, 1,200 km away, as they have nowhere to stay in Benghazi. There are splits here as well between supporters of Boutefleka and opponents. Some have brought Algerian flags with them
There's also a group of about 250 Vietnamese who look stranded here but not one of them speaks English or Arabic. From what I understand, they were told to come here by "Libyan officials in Benghazi" but they have no idea what they are doing here
A libyan journalist here says that 68 people have disappeared in Mesrata after a group of undercover regime agents joined a an anti-regime demonstration. They entered the protest, drew their weapons rounded up the people and took them away, he said
There is a makeshift camp at Benghazi port with about 9,000 to 10,000 people waiting to leave the country. There are between 2,000 and 3,000 Syrians, and another 6,000 consisting of 2,200 Bangladeshis, 520 Thai, 630 Africans and 1,200 Indians.
One week's supply of food left
While businessmen have been providing meals to all those there they say there is only one week's supply of food left. They have not received assistance from any international or charity organisations despite requests.
Those that are in particularly difficult situations are those that either do not have diplomatic representation in Libya or those that have been abandoned by their embassies. Eritreans, for example, have been here from five days to a week and have no idea who will come to get them out. Every Bangladeshi I spoke to said they have been "abandoned" by their embassy. Many said that the embassy has said it cannot assist them.
Since many foreigners have left there are very few restaurants that are open. We went to a grocery store and brought food to one of Benghazi's biggest newspapers, where we've occupied an office and turned it into a kitchen
The editor of a major Libyan newspaper tells me hundreds of armed revolutionaries are heading towards Tripoli to lend a hand to those resisting the Gaddafi regime. "There is probably going to be a massacre in Tripoli," he said. "But Tripoli cannot possibly fall without a massacre. It's a given."
I'm at the offices of a major Libyan newspaper where journalists are watching re-runs of Gaddafi's last "zanga-zanga" televised speech, chanting along with him and then bursting into laughter.
Security tight in Benghazi
just arrived in Benghazi, where life seems to be completely normal. Except almost every major building has revolutionary graffiti. Flags are hoisted as well as tanks on roundabouts with children climbing over them and playing.
All over Benghazi pictures of Gaddafi have been ripped out and replaced with graffiti calling him a traitor. People say Benghazi is where all poiltical movements in LIbya start and they prevail whether or not they reach Tripoli. But they stress that Tripoli is the capital and that the country could collapse without it since the whole country’s economy depends so heavily on it.
People admit in private conversation that with Tripoli being disconnected the entire country is being choked. Such is the dependence of the national economy on the capital.
A journalist I spoke to said there is a lot of excitement about the revolution now but its only a matter of time until it sinks in that the economic situation is dire. “Tripoli needs to fall,” he said. “It needs to fall now.”
Government offices are already choked because of lack of funds and it is only a matter of time untl the private sector is choked as well, says the journalist. Libyans say theres an unprecedented sense of unity among the people.
One man tells me: “the black Libyan hat is worn in the west and the red one is worn in the east. Previously if someone wore a black one in the east people would tell him off. But now, as you can see there are many wearing the black hat in Benghazi.”
The slogans in Libya are very similar to those I saw in Egypt, despite the differences in the regimes. In Egypt there were slogans calling Mubarak an “agent” and simliarly here there are signs calling Gaddafi a “traitor”.
At Benghazi port there is strict security. The entrances are manned by former soldiers who say they are volunteering and don’t get paid. A man in full military uniform says he takes his orders from the new interim "peoples' government" led by former Justice Minister Mustafa Abdul Jalil.
"It doesnt matter if this government has credibility or authority to rule over us," he says. "This is all we have now and for now we need to put our support behind it. We'll deal with issues of credibility when the situation calms down."
He said he used to be in the military in the 80's. Asked where he got his military uniform from he said he was borrowing it from his younger brother.
Gaddafi's home ransacked
14:15 Gulf News has uncovered a ransacked summer home of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in the mountains of Eastern Libya.
Reporter Abbas Al Lawati and Deputy Managing Editor Mick O'Reilly stumbled upon the ransacked residence on Sunday morning. Describing the residence, Abbas said beneath the swimming pool there was a bunker that was broken into.
The door to the bunker was like a vault and there were yellow arrows on the walls indicating escape routes. One leads to the bunker and the other escape route leads to the outdoors.
The bunker was soundproof. The room looked like it was designed for someone to stay for a long period of time. All the facilities inside the bunker were ripped out including the toilet.
Military barracks under civilian control
11:40am The Zawiya military barracks are also completely under civilian control. Ahmad, one of those manning the barracks said around 100 protesters ornered and overcame about 250 mercenaries.
Ahmad showed Gulf News charred buses. “Some of the mercenaries after shooting at us with RPG’s, hid in the buses. We set the bus alight. We could hear their shrieks and screams. I think most died,” he said.
11:30am Youths have taken shotguns and AK47s which they now take with them when they go out or keep them at check points. The ancient Greek and Roman ruins of Cyrene are being guarded by civilians wearing yellow reflective jackets to protect it from looters.
Revolution Hospital renamed
Published 22.30
Bayda city’s central hospital, Revolution Hospital, has been renamed ‘The Martyrs of February 17th Hospital.’
It has recorded 63 deaths, out of which two were children, 1,240 people injured, 300 of them having to go through major operations, said Dr Faraj Sabre, director of the hospital.
The last casualty came in to the hospital on February 19. Eighty volunteer doctors from Egypt have come in and are now heading towards Tripoli. Most in the hospital are working on voluntary basis.
One of the patients at the hospital, Omar Abdullah, a former soldier, said he was shot by his colleagues when he refused to obey orders to shoot live ammunition on protesters. “We were initially told not to tolerate protests and then the order came to shoot live rounds on the crowd. I said no and was shot. Five friends of mine were executed before my eyes for doing the same thing.”
Youths in Bayda are giving out fliers calling for unity and stressing that the capital of the country is Tripoli, in response to fears the country may split. They are also calling for an end to tribalism.
The protesters have set up a “Martyrs’ Tent” on Al Urooba street where they gather to protest. There’s a satellite dish set up with a Al Jazeera showing 24 hours.
One protester tells me there are foreign Muslim fighters in Al Bayda who are planning suicide attacks on forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi in Tripoli. He says they even have heavy weapons.
One of the patients in the hospital said he was used as a human shield by the mercenaries as they started being cornered. The mercenaries then shot him in the thigh.
Outside Bayda is a secret facility where 170 alleged mercenaries are held. The facility is entirely controlled by volunteer members of the opposition who allow reporters to meet the mercenaries on the condition that they don’t give away the place.
One of those managing the facility said they were worried that Gaddafi would bomb it. He said that the mercenaries were being kept there for their own security.
He said that if they were let go, the mercenaries, mostly dark skinned Libyans from the south of the country, would be “slaughtered” by the people. The mercenaries echo that sentiment. One, while being watched by one of the guards, said he was being kept well and fed. “I prefer to stay here until the situation calms down” he said.
The man said he was a soldier. He ended up in Bayda when the regime “fooled me into saying there was a peaceful pro Qaddafi demonstration I needed to attend.” A protester here tells me: "there is a saying in Libya that goes when Gaddafi came to power 4,000 people died. When he leaves 8,000 will die," so we're expecting a fight before he leaves.
Mixed views on Libya after Gaddafi
Published 19.31
A soldier said his task at the border is to ensure there is no infiltration. There are police officers as well. They say they're taking their orders from the popular committees that are set up by the tribes. Some of the soldiers said that they weren’t against Gaddafi “until he hired mercenaries to shoot and kill Libyans”. “That was it. After that we decided it was time for him to go,” he said. There are no signs of Gaddafi’s regime in eastern Libya so far. Some people have hung flags of former Libyan regime ruled by a monarchy, from their homes. I asked a Libyan where people found old regime flags and he said many had them sewn, some even made them at home.
We are in Tobruk, a big eastern Libyan city on the Mediterranean coast. There are signs of violence of the past few days. We saw burnt buildings including a court house and other government institutions. There is calm now though and cars on the road.
Even in the east, however, not everyone is happy with the overthrow of the Gaddafi regime. Some privately say that they expect chaos when Gaddafi’s regime ends. One says: "The Libyan people cannot be governed by anyone else. They are a tough, tribal society. If Muammar goes, we’ll be doomed.” Those with such views in what is now being referred to as the “liberated east” hardly air such views publicly.
Of starvation, stranded workers and a loyal Libyan soldier
Published 19. 26
An Egyptian bus driver at the Egypt-Libya border said his cousin called from Zawya saying he and his colleagues have been holed into the company compound and government forces have places electric wire around the compound to prevent them from leaving. He says they started running out of food four days ago. “He’ll probably starve to death,” he said, adding that phone lines had been cut.
I also spoke to a Bangladeshi steel worker who fled Benghazi, who said the authorities in eastern Libya evacuated them and they never heard from the embassy. He saw a lot of violence and says he has heard that up to 200 Bangladeshis have gone missing, possibly kidnapped. There's no way to confirm this.
There are 800 Bangladeshis stranded at the border, all of whom work for Hyundai. The company took them out to the border and they've been waiting for their embassy in Cairo to come get them. They've been waiting since yesterday afternoon and don't know how much longer they'll be here before help comes.
I spoke to a Libyan working in Egypt who is going into Libya to bring his family out. His family is close to Serte, which I believe continues to be Gaddafi-controlled territory. He said he understands the risk involved but has to bring his wife and children out.
And I spoke to a former Libyan soldier at the border. He still wears his uniform and says the command structure is intact. Asked who's paying his salary he said no one yet. “This is voluntary work,” he said.
