Stories about Libya from March, 2011
Libya: Group Occupies London Mansion Owned by Gaddafi's Son
After long-serving and corrupt rulers and their families leave office, new governments strive to regain state monies lost to dishonesty, cheating and fraud. Often to little success. But a group of squatters under the name 'Topple the Tyrants' now occupy a house in London owned by one of Muammar Al Gaddafi's sons. They want to ensure the money is returned to the Libyan people.
The Forgotten Palestinian Refugees of Libya
More than 10 percent of Libya's inhabitants are immigrants and among them there are reportedly up to 70,000 Palestinian refugee settlers. As they flee violence in the country, the Palestinian Authority has tried to coordinate their evacuation, but lack of identity cards has seen them turned away from a border crossing in Egypt.
Libya: Gaddafi Forces Continue to Shell Zawiya
Intense reports of tank and artillery shelling of Al Zawiya, in the north western part of Libya, are making the rounds on Twitter. Here's the latest on the battle, which Gaddafi state media claims to have won.
Arab World: How Much Does Internet Access Matter?
Amidst the ongoing debate of the role of social media in revolutions across the Middle East and North Africa lies another question: To what degree does Internet access matter in determining the role of the Internet and social media in these revolts? Jillian C. York looks at different ideas about the effects of Internet penetration on the effectiveness of social media organizing.
Libya: Debating the No-Fly Zone (Video)
As human rights atrocities continue across Libya, Tweeps, bloggers and netizens continue their debate on the effectiveness of establishing a no-fly zone over Libya to protect protesters, troops and civilians from air attack.
Are Sub-Saharan Mercenaries Fighting for Gaddafi?
From the very first days of the 2011 Libyan uprising, there has been talk of foreign mercenaries, both from Sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Europe, within long-standing leader Colonel Gaddafi's commando units. Explanations and opinions from the African blogosphere are presented here.
Arab World: Bloggers Compete for Arabisk Competition
Arab bloggers are vying for the Best of the Arabic Blogs Awards, Arabisk, which is now in the judging phase of the competition. The top 20 nominations in four categories are being judged now, and the competition results will be announced at the beginning of April. Haifa Al Rasheed has more on the competition.
Libya: The Freedom Flag Flies Over Misurata (Videos)
The Libyan cities of Bin Jawad, Ras Lanuf, Az-Zawiyah and Misurata all saw fighting on Sunday 6 March, 2011. We take a look at how regional Tweeps and video journalists viewed the fighting in Misurata, the country's third largest city.
Libya: That's Not Fighting, It's Fireworks and other #DesperateGaddafiLies
Libya's dictator Colonel Muammar Al Gaddafi has long been known for eccentricities and blustering actions, odd writings and strange remarks. A new Twitter hashtag #DesperateGaddafiLiesRT collects some of these statements. Of course, Global Voices cannot confirm their veracity.
Libya: Zenga Zenga Meme Goes Viral
Gaddafi's now infamous "Zenga Zenga" speech has sparked a meme over the internet. Remixes of segments of the nationally televised address in which "The Guide" promised to "cleanse Libya inch by inch, home by home, house by house, street by street (Zenga Zenga)" are mushrooming on video sharing websites, much to the delight of Gaddafi opponents.
Libya: Videos Expose Gaddafi's Violent Riposte
Amidst an almost complete internet and media blackout, videos still manage to come out of Libya, giving us a glimpse of what's happening on the ground. Here's a video round up of some of the action from Zawiyah, Misurata, Ras Lanuf, Al-Bayda and Ajdabiya.
Libya: Preparing for the Fight for Sirte (Video)
Rebels are moving towards the city of Sirte, which is the only major city in the far the western side of Libya that remains in government control. However, it's the hometown of Colonel Muammar Al Gaddafi and more than a few people claim the city is heavily defended and will special have symbolic significance if it falls to anti-regime forces.
Middle East: Revolutionary Breeze Blowing from Cairo to Benghazi
Egyptian Tarek Shalaby shares the details of the trip he organized with friends to Libya in order to show solidarity with the Libyan people, as well as deliver medical supplies to them.
Libya: Death Toll Rises to 6,000, US Mulls Intervention
Human rights groups have put the latest death toll in the Libyan crisis to over 6000, as pro-Gaddafi forces continue to pound opposition-held cities with air strikes. Libyan bloggers and tweeps share their side of the story in this post by Antoun Issa.
Libya: High Hopes for the Friday of Liberation
It's already Friday in Libya, and emotions are running high, as more protests are planned after Friday prayers in the capital Tripoli to oust dictator Muammar Al Gaddafi. Libyans are calling Friday's protests as the Friday of Liberation, in the hope that it will see the end of Gaddafi's regime. Both Tunisia's Zein El Abideen Ben Ali and Egypt's Hosni Mubarak's reigns ended on Fridays, after popular uprisings.
Serbia: Reactions to Gaddafi's Interview on Pink TV
Libyan president Muammar Al Gaddafi gave an 8-minute phone interview to Serbian TV Pink on February 28, 2011, describing Libya as “an absolutely peaceful” country. Serbian reactions online and in national media included many of total acceptance and support for Gaddafi's story.
What Happens Now to Zambia Telecom Owned by Libya?
Just over a year ago, the Zambian government sold the telecommunications parastatal, Zambia Telecommunication Company (Zamtel) to a Libyan LAPGreen for over US$270 million. The Zamtel deal has come back to haunt the Zambian government. Zambian netizens have seized on developments in Libya to question the future of the Libyan company.
Libya: “Breaking News: Gaddafi is Lying”
Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Al Gaddafi spoke for more than three hours on state television Wednesday March 2, 2011, denying that anti-government protesters and members of the military were mobilizing against his regime. Instead the dictator, who has been in power for four decades, blamed Islamic terror groups, foreign nations with colonial aspirations and the international media for creating stories about the Libya's descent into chaos.
Tunisia: Refugee Crisis at the Libya Border
The border between Tunisia and Libya has seen a massive influx of refugees since the uprising in Libya began. The initial journey is long and tough, and for most it doesn't end there. Huge crowds of thousands have been waiting for days in freezing cold weather to cross in to Tunisia.
Libya: The African Mercenary Question (Videos)
One of the more distressing sub-plots in the ongoing two-week uprising against Colonel Muammar Al Gaddafi in Libya has been reports of the Libyan leader's alleged use of "foreign" or “African mercenaries” to prop up his falling regime, meaning "Sub-Saharan African" and “Black.” Why put a Black face on the mercenary story?
