As intense fighting brought Libya close to a civil war, British Prime Minister David Cameron has threatened the country's strongman Muammar Gaddafi with military action by imposing a no-fly zone and also suggested English troops could be involved in peacekeeping in the strife-torn nation.
As evacuation of Indians from Libya gained momentum, the government on Monday said it had sought aircraft landing rights in Sehba in interior Libya where over 1,000 Indians have been stranded as anti-government protesters took control of several cities in the oil-rich nation.
Moammar Gaddafi pledged to crush dissent in his country; and ruthless he was as the Libyan leader's mercenaries walked through the streets of Tripoli gunning down every voice they hear against their boss.
Libyan Interior Minister Abdel Fatah Yunes and a top aide of Moammar Gaddafi's powerful son Saif resigned on Wednesday, the latest to disown the regime of the defiant leader whose gunmen clamped down capital Tripoli while protesters claimed new gains in cities.
Rediff.com takes a look at Middle East countries where 'dissent' has become a way of life. Click on NEXT to read further...
Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi's son Seif al-Islam, who was rumoured to have been arrested by rebels, appeared at the Rixos hotel in Tripoli in the wee hours of Tuesday and spoke to some of the journalists staying there. Rebel leaders had claimed that Seif al-Islam had been arrested and he was expected to be tried at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Putting these speculations to rest, Seif al-Islam made an appearance at the hotel in an armoured vehicle.
The Gaddhafi regime is coming to an end and the future of Libya is in the hands of its people, United States President Barack Obama said on Monday, as forces opposed to the embattled Libyan leader claimed to be in control of most of the capital Tripoli.
United States President Barack Obama led world leaders on Monday in conveying that there was no turning back the clock in Libya and tyrant Muammar Gaddafi had no place in the future set-up of the strategic north African country. "The surest way for the bloodshed to end is simple. Gaddafi and his regime need to recognise that their rule has come to an end," the US President said as Libyans around the world celebrated the imminent end of the man who ruled Libya for 42 years.
Chris Hondros, a New York-based photographer for Getty Images covering the battle for control of Libyan city of Misratah, was killed in an attack on April 20 that left three other journalists wounded.
Libyan forces on Tuesday struck back at the rebels hampering their march towards Muammar Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte, as world leaders gathered in London to map out his early exit from power.
Anti-Gaddafi caricatures and graffiti have sprung up across cities such as Benghazi, most of them portraying him in an unflattering light. Let's take a look at some of them.
Loud explosions and anti-aircraft fire rang across the Libyan capital for the third night in running as coalition bombers and missiles struck targets, including Muammar Gaddafi's Tripoli compound and a big naval base on the outskirts of the city.
United States President Barack Obama has asserted that it is America's policy that the Libyan leader, Muammar Al Gaddafi must go and his Administration has multiple tolls to ensure that this goal is achieved.
Noting that the United States and its NATO allies have been successful in its mission in Libya, the United States President Barack Obama on Wednesday said that the Muammar-al Gaddafi needs to step down.
Sending a tough message to Muammar Gaddafi, United States President Barack Obama on Monday said that the Libyan leader would be held accountable for any violence that happens in the country now.
Libyan forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi struck hard at rebels advancing towards Tripoli and pounded the oil port eastern city of Ras Lanuf, as the US mulled land and air options amid growing pressure to arm the out-gunned opposition.
Vayalar Ravi, who is also the Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, was at the terminal 2 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport to receive the Indians evacuated from the Libyan capital Tripoli.
Embattled Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi was pushed further to the brink as opposition forces stormed closer to the capital Tripoli and the international community stepped up pressure on him to leave the country to bring an end to the fighting that has claimed at least 1,000 lives.
Britain, which has already revoked Muammar Gaddafi's diplomatic immunity on Monday, ruled out giving refuge to the Libyan dictator who is "responsible for deaths of hundreds of civilians."
In a tough message hours after the United Nations slapped 'biting' sanctions on the Libyan regime, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has told a bellicose Muammar Gaddafi to leave the country and end his regime as soon as possible.
Two Special Air India flights to Tripoli will operate from Saturday over the next 10 days and two Naval warships including amphibious vessel INS Jalashwa will also set sail to bring back thousands of Indian nationals stranded in strife-torn Libya.Evacuation through sea will begin from Sunday with one of the chartered ships, Scotia Prince, with a capacity to accommodate 1,200 persons set to reach Benghazi port in Libya. An estimated 18,000 Indian nationals live in Libya.
It was an emotional homecoming for the people who hugged their loved ones amid tears as they emerged from Nedumbassery airport at 10.30 am.
It's time New Delhi gives some clarity to its Libya policy so as to secure its energy and business interests in the north African nation, says Harsh V Pant
In a clear message to Muammar Gaddafi and his aides, the United States has said they would be held accountable for human rights violations against their own people, even if the Libyan leader leaves the country, putting an end to his over four-decade long regime.
Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has hinted that he is ready to give up power after 41 years, but only if a rebel interim council gives him a pile of cash and assures him immunity from criminal prosecution.The dictator is said to have proposed a meeting of the Libyan Parliament to agree to a transition period to pave the way for him to step down. His terms include immunity from criminal prosecution and a pile of cash.
The Italian coastguard coordinated one of its largest rescue operations to date, saving 5,500 people on Saturday and Sunday as smugglers took advantage of calm seas to send migrants across the Mediterranean.
Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, an Al Qaeda operative of Libyan origin, died in a missile strike on Thursday, said the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Libyan leader Moamer Gadaffi stirred up a storm by saying that Arab nations and even the Palestinians had the right to nuclear weapons as long as Israel's nuclear ambitions were tolerated.
In response to Switzerland's plan to ban the construction of minarets on mosques, Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi has called for jihad against one of the most peaceful nations in the world. "Any Muslim in any part of the world who works with Switzerland is an apostate, is against (the Prophet) Muhammad, God and the Koran," The Times quoted Colonel Gaddafi as saying. In November, an overwhelming majority of the Swiss population voted against the construction of new minarets.
Were External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, right, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, centre, and Hardip Singh Puri, India's Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, left, perturbed by Libyan dictator Muammmar Gadhafi's demand that Kashmir be made an independent country, an observation embedded in his 96-minute diatribe.
Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi has opposed the expansion of the United Nations Security Council by including countries like India which would spur a 'competition' with nations like Pakistan wanting to get in.
Egypt launched air strikes in Libya, in an escalation of Egypt's battle against IS' growing militancy
Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi believes that the United States and Israel are creating sharp differences between India and Pakistan, so that the latter could not target its 'Muslim bomb' against the West. "The Pakistanis are told that their enemy is the Hindu, not the Jew or Christian, and therefore their bomb should be directed towards them, the Pakistanis' immediate enemy, and not anyone else," he wrote in The Washington Times.
Amid clear signs that controversial Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi was "unwelcome" to pitch his trademark Bedouin tent in New Delhi, his government has erected a camp for him in the city's suburbs as he arrived in New York to take part in the annual UN General Assembly session.
A Keralite working in a private company in Libyan capital of Tripoli was killed in a shell attack by rebel forces on Sunday, according to information received by his family members.
A group of Indian nurses, who were evacuated from Libya by the government, arrived in Kochi in the early hours of Friday morning.
'A series of arrests have illustrated that IS now has a footprint in India.' 'India has been, for a very long time, a key part of Al Qaeda's global jihadist ambitions.'
The Kenyan government has dumped the Mumbai-based group in favour of a Libyan company for a 50 per cent stake in a refinery project in Mombasa. Essar officials said they are still negotiating with the Kenyan government so that they can invest in the project.
The flamboyant leader arrived in France on Monday flanked by 30 blue-uniformed females, all supposedly virgins, with guns dangling from their shoulders.
Libya said both the countries can play a major role as Libya is the northern gate for Africa, and India is an active member seeking to play an essential role in Asia.
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