WSMITH
Ant and Dec lover
Joined: 24 Nov 2010
Posts: 19
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Libya revolt
al Gaddafi Evacuations of thousands of foreign workers are continuing, by air, by sea and overland, but some remain trapped.
The US has blocked transactions involving the assets of Col Gaddafi and some close associates.
The UN estimates more than 1,000 have died in the 10-day-old revolt.
On Friday, an anti-government demonstration in Tripoli came under heavy gunfire.
Arming tribes
At the same time, Libyan state TV showed Colonel Gaddafi speaking from the Tripoli’s old city ramparts.
“We shall destroy any aggression with popular will,” he said. “With the armed people, when necessary we will open the weapons depots. So that all the Libyan people, all the Libyan tribes can be armed. Libya will become a red flame, a burning coal.”
Barack Obama signed an executive order
Much of the country, especially the east, is now controlled byObama anti-Gaddafi forces, including military units who have switched sides. However, the Libyan leader still holds the most of Tripoli, which is home to two million of the country’s 6.5 million population.
Late on Friday, Col Gaddafi’s son, Saif al-Islam, said the number of deaths had been exaggerated, though he confirmed the Libyan air force had bombed four ammunition depots.
He reiterated his father’s statements, blaming al-Qaeda for the uprising.
US President Barack Obama has signed an executive order, freezing the assets of Colonel Gaddafi, members of his family and senior officials. The President said he was also seizing Libyan state property in the United States, to prevent it being misappropriated by Tripoli.
The UN Security Council will meet later on Saturday (1600 GMT) to consider further measures.
A draft resolution, backed by Britain, France, Germany and the United States, calls for an arms embargo, a travel ban and the freezing of assets in response to the bloodshed.
There is also a proposal to refer Col Gaddafi to the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity.
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