Sarkozy seizes the moment, French-led intervention begins in Libya

Still here in Turkey, many people rely on scepticism on western intentions, while “muslim” Gaddafi murders muslim Libyan citizens….

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/Gallery_Images/2011/3/18/1300407659424/Libyans-celebrate-UN-no-f-007.jpg

France send warplanes against Libya after Gaddafi’s forces enter Benghazi

from Wash Post Europe by Liz Sly, Karen DeYoung and Sudarsan Raghavan
Sarkozy confirms no-fly zone, says Libyan leader attacked civilians with “murderous madness”; rebel warplane crashes amid fierce fighting in the east.

MAIN FOCUS: UN takes action against Gaddafi | 18/03/2011

from euro|topics

The UN Security Council decided in favour of a no-fly zone over Libya and further military measures on Thursday. Intervention is the right decision but it comes too late, some commentators say, while others warn of the unpredictable consequences.

What conclusions should we draw from Germany’s abstention on no-fly zone?

by Open Europe blog team
Last night’s UN resolution authorising the creation and enforcement of a no-fly zone over Libya, and Germany’s abstention in the Security Council’s vote in particular, is stirring quite a debate.

Iain Dale has been quick to denounce the German abstention as “shameful” and an act of “cowardice”.

When the armies go marching in: Bahrain and Libya, Ali Khan

from open Democracy News Analysis – by Ali Khan
The Gulf Co-operation Council, whose normal work is to consolidate and promote oil interests, would do well to remember that just last week it admonished Gaddafi for using force against his fellow citizens.

UK and France to spearhead campaign

from FT.com – World, Europe
France, Britain and the US scrambled to co-ordinate a military operation that could check Gaddafi’s forces, ignoring his declaration that he would abide by a ceasefire

Libya, intellectuals and democracy: an open letter to Professor David Held, John Keane

from open Democracy News Analysis – by John Keane
John Keane asks David Held to look back over events and reconsider his reactions to a dissimulator. Was this an error of theory or of practice? Hasn?t the LSE Libya affair done damage to the scholarly credibility of research programmes in the area of democracy?

EU unlikely to call on Bahrain regime to step down

from EUobserver.com – Headline News

Gaddafi’s ceasefire may split the coalition ? and Libya | David Hearst

from World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by David Hearst

Turkey has got its wish for a ceasefire. But if it holds, it will allow Gaddafi to keep control of the major oil ports he has won back

Beware of getting what you wish for. The ceasefire Colonel Gaddafi has just announced is not a vindication of the decision of the UN security council to get tough, nor a result of the wide backing the vote got from the Arab League and, unusually, three members of the African Union.

Where are the UN resolutions to protect civilians in Bahrain?

from Boing Boing by Cory Doctorow

Slate’s Tom Scocca reminds us that the west’s willingness to rescue pro-democracy protesters from brutal, murderous middle-eastern despots is highly selective. If you’re rebelling against a dictator who’s been a thorn in America’s side, you get airstrikes and UN resolutions; if you’re rebelling against tyrants who are forthcoming with their oil or ports, you’re lucky if the Secretary of State will bestir herself for a round of finger-wagging as your comrades are coldly murdered in the streets.

Libya: Mohammed “Mo” Al Nabbous, founder of Benghazi webcast “Libya Alhurra TV,” killed in firefight

from Boing Boing by Xeni Jardin

Watch live streaming video from libya17feb at livestream.com

Via LibyaFeb17.com and via the Twitter updates from NPR’s Andy Carvin, terrible news that the brave citizen journalist Mohammed Al-Nabbous, known to fans as “Mo,” was killed last night.

 

One family against Gaddafi

from AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (IN DEPTH)
Five brothers held in Libya’s most notorious prison describe how they hope to overthrow the regime, or die trying.

Deep divisions over Egypt’s referendum

from AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (IN DEPTH)
Some fear a “yes” vote on Saturday will stall the revolution; others fear voting “no” will keep the army on the streets.

Understanding Egypt’s revolution

from AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (IN DEPTH)
The chair of the committee tasked with rewriting the Egyptian constitution reflects on the birth of a new regime.

West overzealous on Libya

from AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (IN DEPTH)
Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst discusses the risks and opportunities inherent in UNSC Resolution 1973.

Libya: All Eyes on Benghazi (Video)

from Global Voices Online by John Liebhardt

Written by John Liebhardt

This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.

The Libyan people’s uprising against Colonel Muammar Al Gaddafi may or may not have begun in Benghazi, but the country’s second-largest city is the political heart and rebellious soul of the movement. It is home to the country’s first anti-Gaddafi newspaper and the anti-Gaddafi transitional government. With once fast-charging rebel forces now under considerable attacks by Gaddafi forces, however, Benghazi could become a last stand for Libyan freedom.

 

Syria: Protests across the country, 6 reported killed in Dara’a

from Global Voices Online by Anas Qtiesh

Yemen: ?Friday Massacre in Sanaa’

from Global Voices Online by John Liebhardt

Tunisia: Hillary Clinton’s Unwelcome Visit

from Global Voices Online by Afef Abrougui

Written by Afef Abrougui

This post is part of our special coverage Tunisia Revolution 2011.

In the two months that have followed the ousting of former Tunisian President Ben Ali by revolutionary protests, four United States (US) officials have visited Tunisia: Jeffrey Feltman, the assistant secretary of state for Near East affairs, William Burns, the US under-secretary of state for political affairs, and Senators Joseph Lieberman and John McCaine. On the night of Wednesday 15 March, 2011, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton arrived in capital Tunis after a trip to Egypt.

Bahrain: Journalists Denied Entry at the Airport

from Global Voices Online by Omar Chatriwala

Written by Omar Chatriwala

Bahrain awoke to a violent crackdown by police on demonstrators camped out at the country’s iconic Lulu (Pearl) roundabout on Wednesday.

The advantage of not understanding politics, Ahmad Alehossein

from open Democracy News Analysis – by Ahmad Alehossein
The Arab uprisings have proved very different in type to those in Iran, in terms of the scale, scope, both their conscious constituents and their beneficiaries, dynamics and social roots.

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