Tripoli rebellion, 2011

The Battle of Tripoli is a battle currently taking place for the control of Wikipedia:Tripoli, the capital city of Wikipedia:Libya, and forms part of the Wikipedia:2011 Libyan uprising.

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The length of the war (the amount of opposition appearing from nowhere), and the USA and UK maneuvering into position with proposals of the same no-fly zones (WP) that preceded the Iraq War, are the clearest signs yet that this may well be one of the 'seven countries in five years' planned by the neocons in Bush's cabinet and reported by General Wesley Clark. That the countries named are not the countries taken over would be very typical misdirection for the US coup planners, that might serve to allay suspicions that they are at it again, and credit for the perceived error only landing at the door of someone many in the military might dearly love to be a patsy, the only military figure universally reviled by the right.

Tripoli uprising as of the 1st of March. Click on the image for the original full size

The protestors want democracy. The populace of 'democracies' should know better; our bad democracies are bad enough, but a puppet like Iraq? Libya's Wikipedia:corruption perception index in 2010 was 2.2, worse than Wikipedia:Tunisia or Egypt (WP), but that's sort of a joke, because the whole of the capitalist system is a corruption.

Background

This article contains content from Wikipedia An article on this subject has been nominated for deletion on Wikipedia: Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/ Battle of Tripoli (2011) Current versions of the GNU FDL article on WP may contain information useful to the improvement of this article

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Muammar al-Gaddafi (WP) has ruled Wikipedia:Libya since overthrowing the monarchy in 1969. As the Wikipedia:2010-2011 Middle East and North Africa protests caused revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, which both border Libya, Gaddafi was reportedly still in full control, being the longest-ruling non-royal head of state.

Timeline

17 February–19 February

Centred on Wikipedia:Green Square, Tripoli, protestors have taken to the streets since the 'Day of Revolt' on 17 February 2011. The next few days saw attempted prison-breaks, a bank looting, and night protests that overcame police.

20 February–23 February

On 20 February, snipers fired on crowds to control Green Square, as protestors burned down police stations and the General People's Congress building. Reportedly, the state television building was also burned down on 21 February. "Indiscriminate" bombing happened across Tripoli according to eyewitness reports. On 22 February, the justice ministry at al-Shuhadaa square and the Shaabia headquarters joined the list of razed government buildings in the "paralyzed" capital. Wikipedia:Asharq Al-Awsat reported that African mercenaries were killing the injured in Tripolitanian hospitals. Eyewitnesses reported that thousands of these African mercenaries were flown into Tripoli to put down the uprising. Wikipedia:Gaddafi's calls for a struggle against protestors led to a general abandonment of Tripoli's streets, although when this happened on 23 February allegations were made that Gaddafi was losing control in the capital city. By 23 February, Tripoli was considered to be in an unstable condition.

24 February–1 March

The term the "Battle of Tripoli" was first used on 24 February as each side prepared, including defected military units reorganizing and Gaddafi deploying tanks in suburban neighbourhoods. Pro-Gaddafi forces fired on a sit-in supportive of the uprisings in Tripoli in a Wikipedia:mosque in Wikipedia:Az Zawiyah, killing 10. On 25 February, there was another mass protest with an unknown death toll. Tripoli's Wikipedia:Mitiga International Airport may have been taken by the protesters on 25 February. On the 26th an attack was expected when electricity was cut, but the only fighting was in the western suburb of Ghut Ashaal and the Tajoura district, which anti-Gaddafi forces gained. The Wikipedia:National Libyan Council formed by the rebels in Wikipedia:Benghazi, their interim capital, said through their spokesman Wikipedia:Hafiz Ghoga that "we will help liberate other Libyan cities, in particular Tripoli through our national army, our armed forces, of which part have announced their support for the people." Various countries, such as the United Kingdom (WP) and USA (WP) have considered creating a Wikipedia:no-fly zone under Wikipedia:United nations guidance to prevent warplanes being used and mercenaries being flown in, but only over Tripoli. The no fly zone was rejected by Russia and China, the Russian foreigh minister rejected the idea and instead supported sanctions and the Chinese spokesman said their priority was, "for the violence to end, to avoid casualties and to make constructive efforts to help Libya return to peace and stability." On 1 March the British prime minister, Wikipedia:David Cameron backtracked from his comments regarding the no fly zone and Saif Gaddafi who is British educated, accused Cameron of wanting to be a hero, and described Cameron's military threats as a "like a joke" and said, that if military action was taken, "we are ready we are not afraid."

Gaddaffi (WP) loyalists remain in control in Tripoli and on 1 March it was reported that many shops were closed and the few banks that opened had queues outside. Also on 1 March a convoy of twenty government aid trucks left Tripoli with food and medicine for the rebel-held eastern city of Wikipedia:Benghazi.