Libya Conflict: Pro-Qaddafi Movements and Statements

Last Updated: May 27, 2011 at 1300 EST. 

 

Daily updates for Libya have currently been discontinued. The Libya operations tracker continues to be updated on a daily basis at the Institute for the Study of War. You can access the full tracker HERE.

 

PRO-QADDAFI MOVEMENTS AND STATEMENTS (Return to main page)

MAY 27: Qaddafi forces reportedly heavily shelled the western mountain of Zintan.   The rocket fire came from government troop positions east of the town. Anja Wolz, a doctor with “Doctors Without Borders” stationed in Zintan, described “about a hundred [strikes]. I wasn't counting, but there were four or five rockets every half an hour or 15 minutes." Wolz reported no casualties from the bombardment. (Reuters)

MAY 27: Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard, commander of the NATO mission in Libya, said Qaddafi forces have been laying land mines in Misrata. Bouchard reported that “a minefield was laid in the Misrata area.” Qaddafi forces have been previously caught laying mines in an effort to limit rebel movements and humanitarian aid coming into the country. Mines were found near Ajdabiya in the east after rebel forces ousted Qaddafi fighters, and NATO recently removed naval mines from Misrata’s harbor laid by Qaddafi forces. (AFP)

MAY 27: Clashes were reported in the western outskirts of Misrata between Qaddafi and rebel forces. Rebel fighter Suleim Al-Faqih, said the fighting began when rebel fighters fired upon government forces attempting to block a road by digging a trench. The government forces reportedly then fell back, and began shelling the city with Grad rocket and mortar fire.  Another fighter, Faraj al-Mistiri, described the shelling as “coming from all sides.” Qaddafi forces launched a counterattack from Zlitan, west of Misrata, in an attempt to retake Misrata earlier this week. (Reuters, Reuters Africa)

MAY 27: Russia joined in the international community’s call for Qaddafi to remove himself from power, and offered to facilitate his removal. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Qaddafi has “deprived himself of legitimacy with his actions, we should help him leave."  (Reuters)

MAY 26: Qaddafi is believed to have invested Libya’s sovereign wealth fund, estimated at $53 billion, in major US and European financial institutions, according to one report. The report identified Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, HSBC Holdings, and Societe General in helping the Qaddafi regime invest the fund. The investments occurred well before the current sanctions were imposed against Libya. All assets of the Qaddafi family and Libyan government are currently frozen by the European Union and US. (New York Times) 

MAY 26: A British government official stated that Qaddafi is avoiding NATO airstrikes by seeking refuge in hospitals, which he knows NATO planners will not target. The official described Qaddafi’s current status as “increasingly paranoid, on the run, and hiding in hospitals by night.” The official added that coordination and communication among Libyan military commanders has become increasingly difficult due to a fear that NATO maybe tapping their phones. (New York Times)

MAY 26: Spain and other EU-member nations reported receiving a cease-fire proposal from Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi. A Spanish government spokesman said Spain stood by the EU position that the Libyan government must take “certain unspecified steps” before the EU agrees to any cease-fire proposal. US Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes said the proposal was not credible, citing Libya’s failure to comply with previous cease-fire proposals. (Reuters, Washington Post)

MAY 26: Libyan officials floated the idea of retaining Muammar Qaddafi as a figurehead to ensure a transition to democracy. Government spokesman Musa Ibrahim stated that Qaddafi would agree to a “constitution that gives him no executive powers whatsoever.” Ibrahim added that without Qaddafi in the transition process, civil and tribal warfare would likely ensue. George Joffe, a Libya expert at Cambridge University, contested the idea that Qaddafi would accept a deal that strips him of his power, saying “he either runs things, or he has to be removed.” (Los Angeles Times)

May 25: Misrata residents began accusing government forces of kidnapping civilians during the seven-week battle for the city between government and rebel forces. Mahmoud Abaja described Qaddafi forces forcibly removing his two sons from their home in the Kirzas suburb. Tarek Abdel-Hadi, a former Libyan prosecutor tracking those missing from Misrata, estimated that he has collected 1,000 names so far in his efforts. (Associated Press)

MAY 25: Muammar Qaddafi is increasingly isolated from communicating with his troops, according to one report. Canadian Brigadier General Richard Blanchette said that Qaddafi “is forced to hide [from NATO air strikes] and so it's become more and more difficult for him to communicate with his troops and to order attacks on civilians." (AFP)

MAY 25: The US and Britain renewed calls for Qaddafi to remove himself from power.  US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron issued a joint statement saying the two nations “should be turning up the heat” on Qaddafi. Obama added that “there won’t be a letup in the pressure” on Qaddafi.   (New York Times)  

MAY 25: South African President Jacob Zuma is reportedly scheduled to meet with Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi next week. A South African official said the objective of Zuma’s visit is to “seek a breakthrough” in the current fighting. (Reuters)

MAY 25: Qaddafi forces have reportedly taken up positions 6 miles from the center of Zintan. The troops are believed to be equipped with tanks, mortars, and Grad rockets. Rebel officials inside Zintan have reported mostly civilian casualties caused by indiscriminate shelling by Qaddafi forces. (Reuters Africa)

MAY 24: Five Africans captured by rebel forces denied being mercenaries hired by the Qaddafi regime. The men described themselves as “laborers” who were forced by Libyan soldiers to fight for the regime. One man said Libyan soldiers told him “if you want to get out [of Libya], you join us, we give you papers and you work for us." 1.5 million African migrant workers were estimated to be in Libya when the rebellion began. Most are either stranded or have been evacuated. (Reuters Africa)

MAY 24: Muammar Qaddafi’s Bab al-Aziziya compound in Tripoli continued to be struck by NATO warplanes. Libyan officials said the barracks of an army auxiliary unit known as the Popular Guard was struck, allegedly killing three civilians and wounding one hundred and fifty. It was not immediately clear if Qaddafi was at the compound during the airstrikes. (New York Times)

MAY 24: Sources at western oil companies rejected reports that Libyan Oil Minister Shokri Ghanem defected from the regime. These sources confirmed that Ghanem was in Tunisia, but to meet with representatives of oil companies that currently have contracts with the Libyan government. It was not clear if the meeting occurred, but Ghanem was believed to be on assignment to assure the representatives that the Libyan government would honor its current contracts. (Reuters) 

MAY 24: A Reuters journalist is Misrata reported Light shelling of the western district of Dafniyah by Qaddafi forces. The shelling comes amid a government counteroffensive to retake the city. Rebel fighters said Qaddafi forces were attempting to move in on the city from the west and south. (Reuters)

MAY 23: Two captured Libyan government soldiers stated that they were forced to participate in a systematic campaign of rape during the battle of Misrata. The soldiers, under rebel guard, claimed they were forced to commit the acts or risk being beaten by superiors. This recent account comes amid allegations made by US and European officials that the Qaddafi regime has actively encouraged its troops to commit rape. (BBC)

MAY 23: Qaddafi reportedly began a counteroffensive after losing the city of Misrata last week to rebel forces. Rebel spokesman Abdelsalam described government troops advancing from the west under the cover of Grad and mortar fire. A column of five tanks and fifty men were reported seen approximately fifteen miles west of Misrata. Rebels in the city say the government counteroffensive was stalled for the time being. (Reuters Africa)

MAY 23: Tunisian Foreign Minister Mouldi Kefi confirmed that Ghanem was staying on a small island off the coast of Tunisia. Kefi could not confirm if Ghanem defected from the Qaddafi regime as has been widely reported. Tunisian officials have denied Ghanem has sought asylum in Tunisia. (Reuters Africa)

MAY 22: Four explosions were reported in the mountain town of Zintan. Residents said the explosions were from Grad rockets fired by Qaddafi troops stationed outside at the town. No causalities were immediately reported.  (CNN)

MAY 20: The name of Libyan Oil Minister Shokri Ghanem, who is believed to have defected from the regime, appeared on a passenger manifest for a flight to Austria. Austrian Foreign Ministry spokesman Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal could not confirm whether Ghanem boarded the plane and arrived in Vienna. Libyan officials denied that Ghanem has left Libya. (Reuters Africa)

MAY 20: Anton Hammerl, a photographer who has been missing since April, is believed to be dead. Hammerl was with recently released American journalists James Foley and Clare Morgana Gillis outside Brega when the two were detained. Foley and Gillis stated that Hammerl was shot in the stomach by Qaddafi forces, and did not receive any medical treatment as the two were being detained. (Reuters)

MAY 19: The Libyan government offered rebel forces a conditional proposal to withdraw its troops engaged in cities around the country if rebels did the same, and if NATO ceased its strikes. The regime has repeatedly made and agreed to such proposals only to violate them. The Libyan government released footage of Qaddafi in a meeting, which officials claimed occurred Thursday evening. (Washington Post)

MAY 19: A medic from the western mountain town of Zintan reported continued bombardment of rebel positions by government forces. He said that three rebels were killed, and at least one was wounded. (Reuters)

MAY 19: Libyan government spokesman Musa Ibrahim denied that Qaddafi’s wife, Sofia, and his daughter, Aisha, fled the country into Tunisia. Ibrahim asserted that the two were in Tripoli. (AFP)

MAY 19: A resident of Ajaylat, 49 miles west of Tripoli, reported a raid by Qaddafi forces. She described Qaddafi soldiers conducting house-to-house searches, looking for at least one male in each household. Hundreds of people, mostly boys and men, were reported missing after Qaddafi forces withdrew from the town in the evening. (Associated Press)

MAY 19: Qaddafi forces stationed outside Zintan continued to bombard the town. Residents reported a sustained barrage of Grad and rocket fire coming in east and southeast of the town. The extent of the damage caused by the rocket fire was not immediately reported. (Associated Press)

MAY 18: Western mountain towns remained under siege by Qaddafi forces. Residents of Yifran, 75 miles southwest of Tripoli, reported Grad and rocket fire by Qaddafi forces. One rebel said Qaddafi forces were shelling villages located at the top of the Nafusa mountain range in an effort to capture the high ground. Shelling of the rebel-held Wazin border post forced the closure of the post, and killed seven rebels according to Jaber Naluti, a local volunteer. (Washington Times)

MAY 18: Saifa Qaddafi, wife of Muammar Qaddafi, and their daughter, Aisha, reportedly entered Tunisia according to a Tunisian official. A Tunisian Interior Ministry spokesman denied the report, saying that the women would be arrested in accordance with a UN travel ban on the Qaddafi family. A Libyan opposition member said the two were on Djerba, a small island off of Libya, seeking treatment for Aisha’s husband, who has been injured in fighting. (Reuters)

MAY 18: American journalists Clare Morgana Gillis and James Foley, Spanish photographer Manu Brabo, and British journalist Nigel Chandler were released after being detained since April. The four were tried and found guilty of the charge of entering Libya illegally, and given commuted one-year sentences. 15 other journalists are reportedly still missing in Libya. (Washington Post)

MAY 18: Qaddafi is reportedly able to receive fuel shipments in spite of international sanctions. An oil tanker from Turkey is expected to arrive at Zawiyah. The General National Maritime Transport Company owns the tanker, the “Cartagena.” The company is owned by the Libyan government, and is not currently on the UN sanctions list. The regime is reportedly conducting ship-to-ship transfers at the La Skhira port in Tunisia, with GNMTC involved in at least one shipment. (Reuters Africa)

MAY 18: Tunisia continued to accuse Qaddafi forces of firing rockets across the border into Tunisia. Qaddafi forces are currently attempting to cut off rebel supply lines coming in from Tunisia. The Tunisian government threatened to file a complaint with the UN Security Council if Qaddafi forces failed to cease firing across the border. (Al-Arabiya)

MAY 18: Shokri Ghanem, Libya’s top oil official who reportedly defected from the regime yesterday, is believed to be in Tunisia. Tunisian Interior Ministry spokesman Neji Zairi confirmed that Ghanem and his family were seen at a Tunisian resort on Tuesday. Ghanem was described as one of the few Libyan government senior officials who could “speak candidly, and at times openly contradict Muammar Qaddafi.” If Ghanem’s defection is confirmed, he would be the fifth senior official to have defected from the Qaddafi regime. (Washington Post)

MAY 17: Fighting was reported around the city of Misrata despite recent rebel claims that they had complete control of the city. A doctor from Misrata said clashes between Qaddafi and rebel forces occurred around the western and eastern edges of the city. The doctor reported that rebel fighters made up most of the seven casualties reported in the fighting. (Reuters Africa)

MAY 17: The Libyan government announced the release of four journalists who had been detained since April. Government spokesman Musa Ibrahim disclosed the identities of three of the journalists as Americans James Foley and Clare Morgana Gillis, and Spanish photographer Manu Brabo. The fourth journalist is believed to be Anton Hammerl, who disappeared around the same time the other three did. Ibrahim added that the four were presented before an administrative judge on the charge of entering the country illegally. Ibrahim said the four should “go home today or tomorrow at the latest.” (Associated Press)  

MAY 17: A Libyan government delegation is scheduled to meet with Russian officials to discuss a cease-fire solution to the current fighting in Libya. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed Russia’s desire to “see a rapid end to the bloodshed in Libya.” Qaddafi has previously accepted and violated separate cease fire agreements negotiated by the UN and African Union. (Bloomberg)  

MAY 17: Shokri Ghanem, chairman of the Libyan government-owned National Oil Corporation, has reportedly defected from the Libyan government. Conflicting reports either have Ghanem out of Libya or joining the rebel National Transitional Council in Benghazi. (Reuters)

MAY 16: Following a statement in which the head of the British military said that NATO airstrikes should include Libyan government infrastructure, Libyan government officials threatened to place civilians around key government sites. Libyan government telecommunications chief Mohammad ben Ayad gave foreign journalists a PowerPoint presentation detailing the extent of the damage caused by NATO airstrikes. One slide estimated the damage at $1 billion, and another announced that “employees and their families will act as human shields” around government installations. (New York Times)

MAY 16: Pro-Qaddafi forces reportedly attempted to use a small, bomb-laden boat to mine Misrata’s port. One fast boat fled back in the direction of Zlitan as NATO warships intercepted a small boat filled with one ton of explosives and two human mannequins. The attempt represents the third time in three weeks Qaddafi forces have attempted to launch sea-borne attacks against Misrata’s port. The previous two incidents occurred on April 29th, when Qaddafi boats were caught laying mines in the port, and last week when NATO repelled a boat attack. (AFP)

MAY 16: Qaddafi forces have suffered significant losses in the past two days. Qaddafi forces have reportedly been entirely pushed out of the heavily contested city of Misrata. The rebels’ Facebook page showed 200 rebel SUVs and vehicles at the city’s southeastern gate, an area reportedly held by Qaddafi forces. Rebel military spokesman Colonel Ahamd Bani stated that rebel forces defeated two government brigades 12 miles from Zlitan, west of Misrata. (Associated Press) 

MAY 16: International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo formally sought the arrest warrants for three members of the Qaddafi regime. Muammar Qaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam, and his brother-in-law Abdullah al-Sanousi are accused by Moreno-Ocampo of planning and ordering attacks against peaceful demonstrators. Moreno-Ocampo said he has “direct evidence” that the three men orchestrated the attacks. A three judge panel will decide whether to issue the arrest warrants. (New York Times)

MAY 15: Pressure continued to increase on embattled Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi. British General David Richards called for NATO airstrikes to include missions against government infrastructure. Richards believes that such strikes will increase pressure on the Qaddafi regime. The ICC announced that senior Libyan government officials had contacted the Court with information detailing war crimes committed by members of the Qaddafi regime. (Washington Post)

MAY14: Qaddafi released an audio recording that declared “I am still alive.” The statement followed weeks of speculation regarding the Libyan leader’s status, who had not been either seen or heard from since the April 30th NATO airstrike that killed his son, Saif al-Arab. Qaddafi asserted that he “is in a place you cannot reach.” (Los Angeles Times)

MAY 14: The Libyan Government reported that 11 Muslim leaders were killed in a NATO airstrike in the eastern town of Brega. NATO confirmed the strike, but said it was against a command and control bunker. Libyan state television showed bodies being removed from rubble, stating that it was the bodies of the clerics killed in the strike. There was no independent confirmation of this government report. (Wall Street Journal)

MAY 13: According to one report, months of fighting is still predicted in Libya between Qaddafi and rebel forces. Reuters says Intelligence firm Stratfor believes the conflict will continue to be prolonged because Qaddafi “[controls] the core of Western Libya and no one has yet proven able to physically force him out or credibly threaten his grip on power.” Qaddafi also reportedly has billions of dollars worth of foreign currency and precious metals which allows him to pay his troops and hire foreign mercenaries. (Reuters Africa)

MAY 13: International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said he would seek the arrest warrants of three members of the Qaddafi regime on Monday. He did not disclose any names, but it is widely believed two of the indictments will be against Muammar Qaddafi and his son and National Security Advisor, Saif al-Islam. Moreno-Ocampo stated the specific charges will be murder and persecution, which the Geneva Conventions classify as “crimes against humanity.” Moreno-Ocampo presented his case to the UN Security Council last week, which then ordered the case to the ICC. The referral of the case to the ICC by the Security Council obligates all UN members to arrest those indicted should they flee Libya. (Washington Post)

May 13: Supply lines in the western mountain regions remained under siege by Qaddafi forces stationed throughout the mountain range’s desert plains. The mountain towns are linked by a single road that runs from the Tunisian border to within 93 miles of Tripoli. The road has low sections which leave the road vulnerable to attack from Qaddafi fighters. Residents of the mountain towns described an emerging humanitarian crisis emerging from the siege by Qaddafi troops. (Reuters)

May 12: Libyan officials reported two Libyan reporters and their guide killed in yesterday’s NATO airstrike against Qaddafi’s Bab al Azizia compound in Tripoli. Libyan officials led foreign journalists through the compound, showing a bomb crater near a children’s play ground and administrative buildings reportedly destroyed in the blast. Government spokesman Musa Ibrahim characterized the strike as NATO “billions of dollars [spent] on death.” According to one report, it was believed the target of the strike was a series of underground tunnels and bunkers used by Qaddafi. (New York Times)

MAY 12: Fighting renewed in eastern Libya, where a nearly two month old stalemate has gripped both sides. Residents in Ajdabiya reported three rockets striking the town, but no causalities were reported. Local doctor Ahmed Al-Ignashi said there was heavy fighting was occurring at Brega, west of Ajdabiya, between entrenched government troops outside the town and advancing rebel forces from the east. (Al-Jazeera) 

MAY 12: Libyan government officials reported six people killed in an NATO airstrike on Qaddafi’s Bab al Azizia compound in Tripoli. It was not clear the identities of those killed in the strike. The strike occurred hours after Libyan state television aired footage of Qaddafi meeting with eastern Tribal leaders. It is the only known fresh footage of the Libyan leader since the April 30th NATO airstrike that killed his youngest son, Saif al-Arab. (ABC News)

MAY 11: Government forces appeared to have been largely defeated inside Misrata according to reports. Rebel fighters took the heavily contested airport as well as terrain in the south and east, areas where Qaddafi forces have launched strikes against the city’s port. The loss of key terrain within and around the city put Qaddafi’s heavy artillery out of range of Misrata. (New York Times)

MAY 11: American photographers James Foley of GlobalPost.com and Clare Morgana Gillis of The Atlantic and Spanish photographer Manu Brabo, who have all been detained for a month, reportedly met with foreign diplomats in Tripoli. GlobalPost.com CEO Phillip Balboni said that all three photographers were in good health and being treated well. (AFP)

MAY 11: Pro-Qaddafi forces continued their bombardment of Zintan. A rebel spokesman named Abdulrahman reported that 20 to 25 Grad rockets were fired into the town, killing one rebel and wounding three others. (Reuters)

MAY 11: Government forces have abandoned Misrata’s airport to an approaching rebel advance, according to reports. The retreat comes amid major territorial gains made by rebels in Misrata who have reportedly broken government lines in the western area of the city, and have driven as far west as Qaryat az Zurayq, 12 miles west of Misrata. A rebel spokesman named Abdulmolah added that Qaddafi fighters were surrounded by rebel forces in the southern towns of Awjilah and Jalu. (Al-Jazeera, CNN, Reuters)

MAY 11: Libyan officials are reportedly extorting Libyans seeking to flee the country. Libyan officials have ceased attempting to halt the migration, and have instead turned to seeking a profit by charging refugees either cash or their valuable possessions to leave. Libyan officials have not issued a statement about this allegation. The UN reports that at 12,360 people have fled Libya since the rebellion began 12 weeks ago. (Wall Street Journal)

MAY 10: The UN Refugee Agency accused Qaddafi of dangerously overloading boats with refugees in hopes of capsizing the ships. The accusation followed the capsizing of an overloaded ship that may have resulted in the deaths of 600 people. The UN stated that Libyan soldiers are forcing refugees to overload ships. Some believe Qaddafi is making good on his earlier warning that Europe would be “flooded with illegal immigration” after NATO airstrikes first began. (Washington Post)

MAY 10: According to one report, International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo will seek the arrest warrants of Muammar Qaddafi, Saif al-Islam Qaddafi, and Libyan Intelligence chief Abdullah Al Senussi. Each man is believed to be charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity. The names of 88 Libyan officials listed for sanctions in UN Resolution 1970 are expected to be added to an ICC arrest list to be released Monday, May 16th. (Al Arabiya)

MAY 10: A government command and control center was struck in Tripoli according to NATO. Residents said one of the buildings struck was used by the military intelligence agency. No causalities have been reported. (Washington Post)

MAY 9: Qaddafi forces were repelled in an attack at the town of al-Arbaeen, half way between rebel-held Ajdabiya and Qaddafi-controlled Brega. Rebel commander Hamed al-Hafi reported that seventeen government military vehicles and fifty-seven pro-Qaddafi were killed in the fight. Al-Hafi noted that one of Qaddafi’s sons, Mutassim, commands the government forces in Brega. (Reuters)  

MAY 9: Pro-Qaddafi forces were reportedly pushed out of the western side of Misrata, amid an 18 mile advance made by rebels west of the city. Rebel forces said government forces continued to hold the city’s airport and positions to the east and southeast, where Qaddafi forces have launched rocket strikes against the port. The retreating government forces reportedly pulled farther west towards the town of Zlitan.   (BBC, New York Times)

MAY 9: Zintan remained under siege by government forces. Rebel fighters at the Tunisian border said the town is surrounded on three sides by government forces. Shelling is described as indiscriminate as shells reportedly landed across the border into Tunisia. No discernable frontline exists with fighting coming as close as within 9 miles of the town on some days. Government forces reportedly use their position in the nearby mountains’ valley to launch mortar and rocket attacks into the towns above them. (Reuters)

MAY 8: Pro-Qaddafi forces on the outskirts of Misrata continue to evade NATO airstrikes by concealing tanks and artillery pieces in civilian areas. Employing a tactic characterized as “shoot and scoot,” Qaddafi fighters will open fire on the city, and then take cover between buildings before rebel forces or NATO warplanes can target the fighters’ positions. (Reuters)

MAY 8: Government forces continued their counter-assault upon the city of Misrata. Three fuel storage tanks were reported destroyed by Qaddafi forces on Saturday, compounding the fuel-shortage crisis in the city. Heavy fighting occurred near Misrata’s airport as government forces holding the facility repelled a rebel attack. (Los Angeles Times, Reuters UK)

MAY 6: Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said NATO could ends its intervention in Libya in three to four weeks. Frattini said, “"It's not about having a deadline but how to make it so the protective military action can stop as soon as possible," Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom party is under intense pressure from its coalition ally the Northern League over Italy’s expanded role in Libya, including Italian warplanes participating in airstrikes. Berlusconi mended the relationship by pledging to seek a time table on the alliance’s military actions. (AKI)
MAY 6: Russia warned the 20-country Libyan Contact Group not to overstep the authority of the U.N. Security Council. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, after speaking with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, said the group was attempting to "take on the leading role in determining the policy of the international community in relation to Libya," when it should be concerned with stopping the fighting. Lavrov also stated Russia’s strong opposition to any foreign ground operation in Libya. (Reuters)

MAY 5: The United States has pledged $53 million and authorized up to $25 million in assistance to the rebels, including non-lethal supplies such as medicine, boots, tents, rations and protective gear. The first aid shipment from the United States is due to arrive in Benghazi in the next few days. (BBC)

MAY 5: France expelled 14 Libyan diplomats still loyal to Qaddafi shortly after a meeting of the Libyan Contact Group in Rome had announced its plans to provide financial support the rebels. France’s expulsion followed Britain’s footsteps, which had recently expelled diplomats who remained loyal to the regime. (New York Times, Reuters)

MAY 5: NATO aircraft conducted 154 sorties on May 5, of which 57 were designated strikes sorties. In the vicinity of Zintan, nine ammunition storage sites, three tanks, two armored fighting vehicles, two rocket launchers, two truck-mounted guns, and one resupply facility were destroyed. Around Sirte, eight ammunition storage sites were destroyed while near Brega, three rocket launchers were destroyed. In the vicinity of Mizdah, three ammunition storages were destroyed and one tank was destroyed near Misrata. In the vicinity of Ras Lanuf, one communications facility was destroyed. At sea, 23 vessels were hailed, one was boarded, and none were diverted. (NATO)

MAY 5: Libyan government officials claimed that 2,000 tribal chiefs, representing all 850 of Libya’s tribes, gathered for a meeting with Qaddafi. The officials described the gathering a sign of widespread support for Qaddafi. (Associated Press)

MAY 5: Government trucks transporting what a rebel spokesman said were helicopters were destroyed in a NATO airstrike near the town of Zintan. The spokesman, called Abdulrahman, said “"NATO destroyed two or three helicopters carried by big trucks.” (Reuters)

MAY 5: International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said he will formally seek the arrest warrants of three members of the Qaddafi regime, down from the five warrants he previously had said he would seek. The charges are likely to be crimes against humanity, specifically the deliberate targeting and killing of Libyan civilians by the Libyan government. Moreno-Ocampo did not provide further details about whom he was seeking charges against, but earlier reports indicated it is likely to be against Qaddafi and members of his inner circle. (Voice of America)

MAY 4: The Libyan government reminded the international community that Libya was the first nation to issue an arrest warrant for the now deceased Al-Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden. The statement is similar to previous claims by Libyan officials that the rebel forces are Al-Qaeda fighters and criminal gangs. The opposition government in Benghazi has repeatedly denied any ties with the terrorist group. (Washington Post)

MAY 4: Government forces shelled Misrata’s port as the Red Star One, a humanitarian aid ship, docked and attempted to evacuate foreign workers. Othman Belbeisi, an official for the International Organization of Migration which charters the Red Star One, said the bombardment began minutes after the ship docked into the port. The shelling follows earlier statements by Libyan officials that government forces would attempt to cut off access to the port. Four people were reported killed from the rocket fire. (Washington Post)

MAY 4: Muammar Qaddafi is still believed to be alive according to a senior US intelligence official. CIA Director Leon Panetta said in an interview that “the best intelligence we have is that he's [Qaddafi] still alive.” Rumors regarding Qaddafi’s status circulated after he had not been seen or heard from since the NATO airstrike last Saturday on his Tripoli compound. (Reuters Africa)

MAY 4: Pro-Qaddafi forces stationed outside Misrata intensified their bombardment of the city’s port. Rebel spokesman Gemal Salem reported five dead as well as bombardment of the city’s Qasr Ahmed district. (Reuters Africa) 

MAY 4: Government forces shelled the town of Zintan. Rebel forces reported approximately 40 Grad rockets landing in the town. A town spokesman, Khaled Aburaqiqa, reported no causalities from the shelling but said six people died in fighting Monday and Tuesday. Aburaqiqa estimated the total death toll to be 100 people since Qaddafi forces besieged the town. (Associated Press)

MAY 3: International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo submitted a report to the UN Security Council stating that he has credible evidence that 500 to 700 Libyan civilians have been targeted and killed by government forces. Moreno-Ocampo’s report also raised concerns that opposition groups were arresting and harming sub-Sahran Africans believed to be mercenaries hired by Qaddafi. Moreno-Ocampo stated he will submit a request for arrest warrants in the next few weeks against Qaddafi and members of his regime for crimes against humanity. (Washington Post)  

MAY 3: Libyan government officials denied that Qaddafi has personal funds in Swiss bank accounts. The denial followed a report by the Swiss that Qaddafi has potentially illegal assets estimated at nearly $418 million spread throughout Swiss bank accounts. Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim stated that any money found was closer $25 million and was part of the Libyan government’s foreign investment portfolio. (Reuters)

MAY 3: Pro-Qaddafi forces continued their sustained bombardment of Misrata’s port, preventing aid from entering the city for the fourth straight day. A rebel spokesman named Safieddin also reported additional fighting at the southern and eastern outskirts. (Guardian, Reuters)

MAY 3: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined the growing international call for Qaddafi’s ouster from power. Erdogan stated that Qaddafi deliberately ignored the diplomatic options before him, and “chose blood, tears, oppression and attacks on his own people. The thing that needs to be done is Muammar Qaddafi to immediately step down from power that he holds in Libya.” Erdogan’s statement followed criticisms by the Qaddafi regime and opposition that Turkey was hedging its bets in the conflict by dealing with both sides. (New York Times)

MAY 2: The International Criminal Court’s Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo stated he would seek five arrest warrants again certain members of the Qaddafi regime, but did not disclose any names. Moreno-Ocampo alleged that the Qaddafi regime has been indiscriminately detaining and killing civilians. Moreno-Ocampo is expected to brief the Security Council of his findings on Wednesday. (Reuters)

MAY 2: Approximately two thousand people attended the funeral of Qaddafi’s youngest son, Saif al-Arab, who was killed in a NATO airstrike over the weekend. Two of Qaddafi’s sons, Saif al-Islam and Mohammad, were in attendance. Qaddafi was reportedly not at the funeral, and has not made any public appearances since al-Arab’s death. The crowd chanted “the people want revenge for the martyr” and “revenge, revenge for you, Libya.” (Washington Post)

MAY 2: Government forces continued their assaults on the western mountain region. Government forces reportedly fired Grad rockets into Zintan Monday night. Rebel spokesman Abdulrahman said ten rockets fired from the north of the town. No casualties were reported. Refugees from the besieged town of Yafran described a continuous barrage by Qaddafi forces stationed outside the town. (Reuters, Reuters Africa)

MAY 2: Heavy fighting reportedly continued throughout the western mountain region of Libya. Rebel spokesman Abdulrahman reported that Qaddafi forces were indiscriminately shelling the town of Zintan, and were attempting to “enter the town from three sides: the east, southeast and northeast.” Yifran resident Saleh Aouni reported that “not an hour goes by without shelling” from Qaddafi forces. (Reuters Africa)

MAY 2: Government forces deployed outside the western mountain town of Zintan suffered a loss of 10 to 12 tanks according to rebel spokesman Abdulrahman. He reported that NATO airstrikes struck the eastern area of the town overnight, destroying the tanks stationed at that location. (Reuters)  

MAY 2: Rumors circulated throughout Misrata that government forces were preparing to launch chemical weapons into the city. The rumors followed renewed shelling by government forces stationed outside Misrata. Libyan activist Rida al-Montasser reported that Qaddafi forces were being issued gas masks. Qaddafi reportedly gave up his chemical weapons program in 2003, but some believe that he secretly retained some of his stockpile. (Associated Press)  

MAY 1: Government forces reportedly bombarded Misrata’s port, killing twelve civlians. Rebel spokesman Ahmed Hassan reported that the shelling began as humanitarian ships were offloading supplies onto the dock. The bombardment followed statements made by the Libyan government two days earlier that the ships were smuggling in weapons for rebel fighters, and that any ship attempting to enter the port would be shelled. No ships were reported struck during the bombardment. (Reuters Africa, Associated Press)

May 1: Qaddafi’s youngest son, Saif al-Arab, was killed in a NATO airstrike on Qaddafi’s Bab Azizia compound in Triploi. Government spokesman Musa Ibrahim reported that Qaddafi “is in good health. He was not harmed.” Three of Qaddafi’s grandchildren were also reported killed in the strike. (Los Angeles Times)

APRIL 29: The Libyan government threatened to attack any ship carrying aid to the besieged city of Misrata. Government spokesman Musa Ibrahim alleged that the humanitarian aid ships are smuggling “weapons and supplies” to rebels fighting in the city. He added that the government would consider evacuation requests for foreign workers stranded in the city. Ibrahim rejected any possibility of deliveries entering via the port, stating “Any attempt to enter the port will be attacked, regardless of the justifications.” (Washington Post)

APRIL 29: Government forces mounted on fifteen trucks were reportedly captured by Tunisian military units after crossing into the Tunisian border town Dahiba. Government forces were chasing rebel fighters following an attempt to retake the rebel-held Wazin border post. Dahiba residents reported shelling of the town by Qaddafi forces from across the border. (Associated Press, BBC)   

APRIL 29: Vessels believed to be loyal to Qaddafi reportedly laid mines in Misrata’s harbor according to NATO Brigadier General Rob Weighill. He stated that mining the harbor was “an effort to prevent humanitarian assistance going into Misrata to help the beleaguered population.” (Reuters Africa)

APRIL 29: Government forces outside Misrata launched renewed attacks against the town. A doctor on the city’s medical committee reported four government tanks stationed southwest of Misrata firing indiscriminately into the city. The doctor said nine people were killed and thirty were wounded. A rebel said clashes were occurring at the city gate in the Algeran district, near Misrata’s outskirts. (CNN) 

APRIL 28: Government forces continued heavily shelling Misrata, resulting in ten dead and thirty wounded. Rebel spokesman Mohammad Ali said that Qaddafi forces, positioned to the east and south outside of the city, fired a sustained barrage of artillery and rocket fire. The bombardment was reportedly fired indiscriminately into neighborhoods. (Washington Post, New York Times)

APRIL 28: Pro-Qaddafi forces reportedly seized the southern town Kufra following a day of intense fighting with rebel forces. A Libyan military spokesman stated that “Libyan forces have seized full control of the town of Kufra and purified it of the armed gangs.” Rebel officials denied that the town was lost, saying reinforcement were being deployed to retake the town. (Reuters Africa, New York Times)

APRIL 28: Government forces continued to shell western mountain towns. Residents in Zintan reported sustained bombardment of Grad rockets by Qaddafi forces positioned outside the city. Rebels manning the Wazin border crossing reported that government forces began a counteroffensive by shelling the outpost. (Reuters Canada)

APRIL 28: Qaddafi has reportedly begun preparing for a potential prolonged conflict in Libya. According to one report, he has been stocking warehouses in the southern town Sabha with large quantities of food. Despite financial sanctions on the regime, Qaddafi reportedly has stores of billions of dollars “that he can use for a while; he can outwait the rebels” stated Lisa Anderson, a Cairo-based Libya expert. The regime enjoys close relations with Tunisia, which still allows Libyan government officials to freely travel to and from the country. Observers added that Libya could circumvent the UN-imposed sanction by importing its needs from border countries such as Chad, Algeria, and Niger. (Wall Street Journal) 

APRIL 28: Pro-Qaddafi forces struck a rebel checkpoint in Misrata overnight. A local doctor said that “fifteen of our rebels at a checkpoint near the front line have been attacked by Gaddafi's troops with heavy artillery and then with rockets.” He reported seven dead and four injured in the strike. (Reuters)

APRIL 27: Government officials began training and arming residents of the Tarhouna district, fifty miles southeast of Tripoli. Abdel al-Muftah, the government overseer of the program, reported that 200 people were currently receiving a week’s worth of training, and each person is armed with a Kalashnikov rifle upon completion of training. Al-Muftah added that the civilians would also received instruction on how to fire rocket-propelled grenades and gun mounted trucks. He stated the purpose was “to fight NATO. We heard NATO will bring soldiers on the ground.” Some of the civilians that have received training are reportedly as young as eleven years-old. Omar Musbah Omar, a recent civilian-trainee, expressed a sentiment reportedly shared by other recruits that if Libyan rebels move in on Tarhouna, he “would put [his] gun down.” (Wall Street Journal)

APRIL 27: Qaddafi forces outside Misrata resumed shelling the city following a halt in their advance to the town’s port. A rebel spokesman named Reda reported that “Qaddafi’s forces this morning started bombarding an area about 10 km (6 miles) north of the city. They are using Grad missiles.” (Reuters)

APRIL 27: Government forces continued shelling the western mountain town of Zintan. A rebel spokesman Abdulrahman reported that “around 15 Grad rockets landed in the town centre,” destroying homes with no deaths or injuries reported. (Reuters Africa)

APRIL 27: A force of approximately three hundred Qaddafi fighters in Land Cruisers and armed with rockets attacked Misrata’s port on Tuesday. The counteroffensive was halted by NATO airstrikes. The force reportedly suffered a loss of thirty-seven vehicles according to a rebel spokesman. Medical officials at the port stated that bombardment by Qaddafi artillery killed three refugees and wounded ten. Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khalid Kaim claimed that the force was reacting to attacks launched by rebels in Misrata. (Wall Street Journal, Reuters)   

APRIL 26: A Libyan delegation reportedly arrived in Venezuela to seek a peaceful solution to the fighting in Libya. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro stated the delegation is working on “a proposal geared toward the need to overcome the inertia of the war that has been imposed and makes a call for understanding and to increase efforts to stop the barbarity.” Venezuelan government officials denied that Venezuela would be a possible safe haven for Qaddafi if he were to leave Libya. (Reuters)

APRIL 26: Government spokesman Musa Ibrahim reported that Qaddafi is “healthy and well. He is not hiding, he is leading the battle” following a NATO airstrike against his Bab al-Azizia compound on Monday. An image from a Libyan state television broadcast showed Qaddafi receiving local leaders with a television behind him displaying today’s date. (Bloomberg)

APRIL 26: Government forces shelled Misrata’s port, wounding refugees and forcing a humanitarian ship to stay offshore. A rebel spokesman named Abdelsalam stated that three people were killed and ten were wounded in the shelling. The city continues to be shelled by Qaddafi forces surrounding the city, despite a withdrawal of government forces from within Misrata. (AFP, Reuters Africa) 

APRIL 26: Pro-Qaddafi forces continued their assault on western mountain towns. Adulrahman al-Zintani, a rebel spokesman in Zintan, stated that government forces were massing at the town’s eastern entrance, and that shelling was occurring daily from the north. Refugees from Yifran reported barrages of tank and artillery fire occurring yesterday. (Reuters)

APRIL 26: The front in eastern Libya remained fixed between the towns of Brega and Ajdabiya with Qaddafi troops digging in long-range missile batteries around Brega. Rebel officer Abdul Salam Mohammed stated that “there are three thousand government troops in Brega and the next two towns. They have been building up their presence.” He said that rebel fighters control the area between Ajdabiya and al-Arbeen, but government snipers occupy the area. (Reuters)     

APRIL 26: Pro-Qaddafi and rebel forces reportedly clashed in the outskirts of Misrata. One witness stated that fighting occurred in the suburbs of the city, but the center remained quiet. The same witness also added Qaddafi artillery strikes coming from twelve to eighteen miles outside the city. (CNN)

APRIL 25: Libyan officials called the NATO airstrike against Qaddafi’s Bab al-Azizia compound in Tripoli “an attempt to assassinate the leader.”  NATO stated that the strike was intended to destroy a communications center used to coordinate attacks against civilians. Saif-al Islam Qaddafi stated the airstrike would not “make us afraid or give up or raise the white flag.” (Washington Post)  

APRIL 25: Qaddafi forces were ousted out of their final position on Tripoli Street, according to one report. The fighters were holed up in a villa at the city’s entrance to the thoroughfare. Abdel Mutalib, a Misrata rebel commander, stated “after this the city will be cleared of Qaddafi.” Twelve Qaddafi fighters were captured, including one colonel, and twenty-five were killed. (Wall Street Journal)

APRIL 25: Government forces continued heavily shelling Misrata, firing rockets into a residential area and hospital that left twelve people dead. There was no sign of the tribes the Libyan government said would be tasked with negotiating with rebels, or militarily intervening if negotiations failed. Qaddafi forces were reportedly cut off from one another within Misrata, and began retreating to government positions that ring the city. (Los Angeles Times)

APRIL 25: Residents of the western mountain town Zintan reported pro-Qaddafi forces firing Grad rockets into the town, killing at least four civilians. Area locals also reported clashes between Qaddafi and rebel forces for control of Al-Harabah, which sits on the Nalut-Zintan road, fifteen miles east of Nalut. (AFP)  

APRIL 25: Government spokesman Musa Ibrahim reported that three people were killed in the NATO airstrike on Qaddafi’s compound, Bab al Azizia, in Tripoli. A Libyan government press official further reported that forty-five people were injured in the strike. (Bloomberg, Al-Jazeera) 

APRIL 25: Pro-Qaddafi forces continued heavily shelling Misrata, despite earlier Libyan government statements that the Libyan military had ceased operations to allow tribal leaders to negotiate with the rebels. A witness named Ahmed al-Qadi reported “very intense and random shelling on residential areas. There were thirty martyrs, and sixty wounded.” (Reuters)

APRIL 24: Government forces reportedly bombarded Misrata, following a withdrawal of government troops from the city. Rebel spokesman Abdelsalam reported that three residential areas and Tripoli Street were struck. Another rebel spokesman, Safieddin, stated that eight people were killed in the bombardment. (Reuters) 

APRIL 24: Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khalid Kaim reported that if tribal leaders failed to reach a settlement with the rebel forces in Misrata, an assault by the tribes would be “ruthless.” He also added that the six tribes in the region can muster a force of sixty thousand if necessary. (The Guardian)

APRIL 24: Qaddafi forces were reportedly pushed out of their final position in Misrata, from the city’s old main hospital. This recent loss followed a week in which rebel fighters dislodged government snipers from buildings, and took control of Misrata’s center. A rebel named Lufti said that the three to four hundred government fighters stationed at the hospital were “trying to run away. They are pretending to be civilians.”(Associated Press)

APRIL 23: Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khalid Kaim stated that Libyan forces at Misrata will cease operations to allow tribal leaders to negotiate an agreement with rebels inside the city. Kaim added that if an agreement is not reach in forty-eight hours, tribal leaders are authorized to attack Misrata. He also noted that tribal leaders had been attempting to establish communications with the rebels. Rebels at Misrata confirmed that Qaddafi forces pulled back from the city. (Washington Post)

APRIL 22: Government forces have reportedly lost control of Misrata’s center, known as Tripoli Street. A rebel spokesman named Mohammad stated that the loss of Tripoli Street reflected “a general pattern of collapse everywhere. They [government forces] are acting like headless chickens, because their command and control has been disrupted by NATO.” Mohammad also added that hundreds of government fighters were killed Thursday during fighting. Government spokesmen maintained that government forces controlled eighty percent of the city. (Washington Post) 

APRIL 22:  Pro-Qaddafi forces suffered a significant loss during fighting in Misrata. Rebels reported dislodging government snipers from most of Misrata’s tallest buildings, including the tallest building in the city known as the Insurance Building. The presence of tanks destroyed in yesterday’s fighting near Tripoli Street indicated that Qaddafi planned an assault on the city’s center, according to rebel claims. (New York Times)  

APRIL 21: Qaddafi forces were accused by Western government officials of using cluster bombs against rebel forces as well as civilians. US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton stated that “Qaddafi forces may have used cluster bombs against their own people.” (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) 

APRIL 21: Heavy fighting continued in Misrata as Qaddafi and rebels forces fought for control of Tripoli Street, the city’s center. Rebel fighters reported that nearly three hundred government fighters occupied a fortified hospital which was then used to launch mortars and rockets. (Los Angeles Times)

APRIL 21: The Libyan government called for peace talks with rebel forces. Government spokesman Musa Ibrahim urged the rebel leadership in Benghazi to “sit down and talk and get Libya out of this crisis.” He also stated that while the Libyan government is open to peace talks, it was arming citizens in the event of a NATO-led ground invasion.  (Reuters)

APRIL 21: Pro-Qaddafi forces continued their bombardment of Misrata. A rebel spokesman reported that mortar fire from Qaddafi forces killed three rebels and wounded seventeen. The mortar attack occurred on Tripoli Street, where Qaddafi and rebel forces have clashed for control of the city’s center. Ten civilians have reportedly died in the fighting since Wednesday. (Reuters Africa)

APRIL 21: Pro-Qaddafi forces have reportedly abandoned the Dehiba border post, on the Tunisian border, to advancing rebel forces. Dehiba serves as a connection to therebel-held town of Nalut, 140 miles southwest of Tripoli. Tunisia’s official press organ, Tunis Afrique Presse, reported that thirteen Libyan government soldiers, including two commanders, had been detained fleeing into Tunisia from Dehiba. A witness from the Tunisian side reported seeing “rebels control[ing] the border crossing.” (Associated Press, BBC)

APRIL 20: According to reports, Qaddafi has consolidated his control in central and western Libya to ensure an indefinite stalemate with rebel forces. One European official attributed the stalemate to the poorly equipped and trained rebel forces. A US official speculated that Qaddafi may then determine “how aggressive he wants to be in the east, in places like Benghazi.” (Reuters)

APRIL 20: Foreign Minister Abdelati Obeidi stated that the Libyan government would hold elections following a six month cessation of NATO airstrikes. Obeidi commented that the proposed election “will cover whatever issue raised by all Libyans.” (Reuters)

APRIL 20: Government snipers reportedly form the bulk of government forces fighting in Misrata. Rebels reported that some snipers posses night vision scopes. One rebel, Abdul Hakim, observed that the snipers exhibit substantial training saying that “they work in shifts. One guy focuses on targets for two hours and then he is replaced.” Doctor Khalid Abufalgha, who serves on a committee in Misrata that tracks causalities, reported that 365 people, including 85 civilians, have been killed in the fighting within the city. (Reuters)

APRIL 20: Pro-Qaddafi and rebel forces continued to fight for control of Tripoli Street, Misrata’s center. A rebel spokesman named Abdelsalam said that eight civilians were killed in yesterday’s skirmishes. Another spokesman, Reda, said “rebels control fifty percent of the street. The other fifty percent is controlled by Qaddafi soldiers and snipers.” (Reuters)

APRIL 20: Government forces stepped up assaults against western mountain towns. In the town of Yifran, a rebel fighter named Belgassem reported daily bombardments of Grad rockets, tank shells, and anti-craft fire. Residents of Nalut reported repelling assaults by pro-Qaddafi forces since Monday. Another town, Qalaa, reportedly came under repeated attack earlier this week but has not experienced any recent shelling. (Washington Post)

APRIL 19: A rebel medic in Misrata reported that a government sniper captured ten days ago said that he was one of sixty snipers operating in the city, though that number is believed to have been reduced since then.  Snipers reportedly still occupy the Tameen building, the tallest point in the city. Government forces continue to occupy positions on either side of Misrata’s center. According to one report, the core of Qaddafi’s forces are the brigades commanded by his sons, believed to total between ten and fifteen thousand men. (BBC)

APRIL 19: UNICEF spokeswoman Marixie Mercado stated that the “twenty verified child deaths [in Misrata] and many more injuries from mortars and tanks and bullet wounds” were a result of the bombardment by pro-Qaddafi forces on the city. (Reuters Africa)

APRIL 19: Pro-Qaddafi forces continued their bombardment of Misrata. Amnesty International researcher Donatella Rovera, currently stationed in Misrata, said the shelling was primarily concentrated “northwest of the center. The city center is the frontline. There were casualties coming [into the hospital].” (Reuters Africa)

APRIL 19: Government reinforcements moving towards Misrata from the southern city of Beni Walid were struck by NATO airstrikes. The extent of the damages suffered by the unit was unknown. Rebel fighters stated the reinforcements represent the sixth group sent by Qaddafi. Government and rebel forces continue to clash over al Thaqil Road in southern Misrata, which is a thoroughfare to the city’s port. (Wall Street Journal)

APRIL 18: According to one report, Qaddafi forces have temporarily abandoned using tanks in favor of weapon mounted pickup trucks to avoid being easily identified by NATO warplanes.  Government forces have reportedly taken positions within civilian areas knowing NATO will not strike civilian centers. (Washington Times)  

APRIL 18: Government spokesman Musa Ibrahim stated that the Libyan Government and the UN have come to an agreement to allow humanitarian aid into Misrata. Ibrahim called the agreement a “very positive step.” It was not stated when the humanitarian mission into Misrata would begin. (Washington Post)

APRIL 18: Government forces continued their fifth straight day of shelling of Misrata. Rebel spokesman Abdelbasset Abu Mzereiq reported that “Qaddafi forces are shelling Misrata now. They are firing rockets and artillery rounds on the eastern side—the Nakl el Theqeel road and the residential areas around it.” (Reuters) 

APRIL 18: Pro-Qaddafi forces were repelled in an attack on Ajdabiya after shelling the city according to rebel spokesman Mustafa Gheriani. A witness reported seeing a dozen rockets, fired from government force’s positions, land at the western gate. (Bloomberg, Reuters)

APRIL 17: Seventeen people were left dead Sunday after the heaviest fighting seen between pro-Qaddafi and rebels in Misrata. Government forces reportedly have encircled around the town from the north, south, and east. The town’s center, known as Tripoli Street, remained under contest between the two forces. (Wall Street Journal)  
APRIL 17: Pro-Qaddafi forces launched a barrage of rocket and artillery fire at the western outskirts of Ajdabiya. The bombardment sent rebel fighters fleeing eastwards towards Benghazi. Their pullback ended a rebel push to retake the town of Brega, however some rebels reportedly remained in Ajdabiya. (New York Times)

APRIL 17: Government forces continued their siege of the western mountain towns of Zintan and Nalut. According to reports, regime forces have also moved in on the mountain towns of Jadu and Ar Rajban. (Washington Times)

APRIL 17: Saif-al Islam Qaddafi denied reports that the Libyan army has been targeting civilians in their strikes against rebel positions around the country, stating “this didn’t happen. It will never happen.” He described the rebels as “terrorists” who need to be removed. (Washington Post)

APRIL 15: Government forces attacked rebel positions approximately half a mile outside of the western gate of Ajdabiya. Rebels reported a loss of one anti-aircraft gun including the fighter manning the weapon. (Reuters Africa) 

APRIL 15: Pro-Qaddafi forces continued heavily shelling the city of Misrata. Residents reported that 120 rockets were launched at the city, resulting in the deaths of eight civilians and injuring seven others. (Reuters)

APRIL 14: Government forces heavily shelled Misrata throughout the day, resulting in the deaths of twenty people according to rebel spokesman Mustafa Gheriani. The shelling of the town’s port district of Qasr Ahmed is part of a larger effort to prevent aid from coming in by sea. Qaddafi’s forces reportedly control the southern and western sides of the city, while rebel forces control the northern and eastern sides. (Los Angeles Times)

APRIL 14: A man believed to be Qaddafi appeared in the capital of Tripoli, standing through the sunroof of an SUV at a government-staged pep rally. Qaddafi’s daughter, Aisha, spoke at the rally saying “we are a people that cannot be defeated.” (Washington Post)

APRIL 14: Three of five Western journalists who have been missing since early April were spotted at government detention camps according to Western sources.  Among those spotted was Atlantic magazine freelance writer Clare Morgana Gillis. (Washington Post)

APRIL 14: Pro-Qaddafi forces shelled Misrata for three hours, resulting in the deaths of nine civilians according to reports. A rebel named Abdel-Salam stated that the shelling targeted the port, the city’s only lifeline. (Washington Post)

APRIL 13: Twelve government tanks were destroyed by NATO airstrikes outside Misrata. Heavy fighting is reportedly continuing within the city, but rebel forces reportedly control the northern and eastern sides of the city. Qaddafi forces continued heavy shelling of the city which a rebel spokesman named Mohammad described as “randomly falling all around the city.” (Washington Post)

APRIL 13: French Naval officers stated that government forces are camouflaging their units, making it increasingly difficult to target the units from the air. (Washington Post)

APRIL 13: Rebel forces inside Misrata reported renewed clashes in the town’s center and eastern flank with government forces (Reuters Africa).

APRIL 13: According to one report, pro-Qaddafi and rebel forces exchanged rocket fire twenty-five miles east of Brega, which the government currently holds. (Reuters)

APRIL 13: Qaddafi suffered a loss of four tanks around Zintan and an ammunition dump at Sirte to NATO airstrikes. Witnesses in Ajdabiya reported renewed rocket fire on the town. (The Press Association)

APRIL 12: Rebel spokesman Abdulrahman reported new bombardment of the western mountain town of Zintan. He said pro-Qaddafi forces “north of the town fired mortar rounds from pickup trucks.” He also stated that government forces are targeting Zintan residents who fled to the nearby hamlet of al-Ghnayma. (MSNBC)

APRIL 12: Qaddafi is using Colombian female snipers in Misrata according to rebel reports. It believed the snipers are part of the Colombian rebel communist group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a group Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos affirmed “that still has ties to Col. Qaddafi.” The presence of Colombian snipers is reportedly part of a broader foreign mercenary force present in Libya. Rebel fighters claim Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Ukraine are providing support to Qaddafi. The biggest supporter is allegedly Algeria, which rebels claim has sent ground troops and equipment to aid Qaddafi. Rebel forces claimed a dozen Algerian fighters were captured during the fighting last week at Ajdabiya, and that the Algerian government has leased ten transport aircraft to Qaddafi to ferry foreign mercenaries into Libya. (Washington Times) 

APRIL 12: Two offensives launched by government forces on Misrata were repelled. Rebels in the city said fighting occurred around the city’s center and in its eastern district on Nak el Theqeel road, which links the rebel-controlled port to Misrata. Rebel spokesman Abdelbasset Abu Mzereiq said four people were killed and twenty-three were injured in the attacks. NATO airstrikes destroyed five government tanks around Misrata. (Reuters) 

APRIL 12: Amnesty International stated that Qaddafi forces have been executing captured prisoners. The group stated it has six cases of dead opposition fighters who had been shot in the back of their heads with their hands bound. Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International’s director for the Middle East and North Africa said “the circumstances of these killings strongly suggest that they were carried out by the forces loyal to Colonel Qaddafi.” (Reuters) 

APRIL 12: Brigadier General Mark van Uhm, NATO’s chief of allied operations, expected “pro-regime forces to favor hit-and-run tactics by motorized columns of pickup trucks” due to NATO airstrikes destroying Qaddafi’s heavy weaponry. (Reuters)

APRIL 12: Two offensives launched by pro-Qaddafi forces on Misrata were reportedly repelled. A rebel named Mohammad Abu Shaara stated heavy fighting occurred at the center, around Tripoli Street, and on the eastern side, near Nak el Theqeel Road. (Reuters Africa)  

APRIL 12: Pro-Qaddafi forces reportedly resumed attacks on Ajdabiya, shelling the western gate. Witnesses reported approximately eight artillery blasts coming from that area. (Reuters) 

APRIL 11: Former Libyan Ambassador to the US Ali Aujali warned that Qaddafi would conduct retaliatory strikes against the US if he is allowed to remain in power. (The Hill)

APRIL 11: Heavy shelling of Misrata by government forces occurred hours after Qaddafi accepted an African Union cease-fire proposal. Rebels in the city said that pro-Qaddafi forces used Russian-made Grad rockets, which fire several rocket rounds from a single launcher that can be mounted on trucks. Misrata residents reported heavy shelling of residential areas throughout the day, resulting in the deaths of three people. (Reuters) 

APRIL 11: The Libyan government expressed optimism about weathering the recent economic sanctions imposed on Libya, despite the severity of the sanctions. Finance Minister Abdulhafid Zlitni believed that “[the NATO airstrikes are] going to end soon” before the sanctions begin to take a devastating toll on the Libyan economy. The exodus of foreign born workers left many services unfilled, but Libyans have been gradually filling those roles. However, several factories and shops remain closed which have significantly raised prices. Regarding the loss of Libya’s biggest asset, oil, Zlitini implied the government can survive without its oil revenues stating “oil is not always a good thing. It is a depleting asset, one day it will stop.” (Washington Post)

APRIL 11: The four reporters who were detained by Qaddafi security forces five days ago remain in custody. GlobalPost CEO Philip Balboni issued a statement which said the journalists “are now in the hands of the Libyan government and are safe.” Officials at the Turkish Embassy in Tripoli are in discussions with Libyan officials to secure the journalists’ release. (CBS)  

APRIL 11: Pro-Qaddafi forces reportedly shelled Misrata with rocket fire, despite the acceptance of an African Union cease fire proposal by Qaddafi. A doctor in Misrata said shelling of residential areas left six civilians dead. (Washington Post)

APRIL 10: Qaddafi accepted an African Union peace plan which calls for an immediate cease fire and dialogue with the opposition group. The AU plan includes a proposition that calls for dialogue between Qaddafi and the opposition during a transition period “with the view to adopting and implementing the political reforms necessary for the elimination of the causes of the current crisis, including democracy, political reform, justice, peace and security, as well as socio-economic development.” Rebel spokesman Mustafa Gheriani rejected the plan, stating that any plan that does not “include his [Qaddafi’s] departure, resigning his job, it won’t be accepted by the street.”  (Washington Post)

APRIL 10: Lt. Gen. Charles Bouchard, NATO’s Libya operations commander, reported that NATO airstrikes destroyed 11 regime tanks moving towards Ajdabiya and 14 tanks near the besieged, western town of Misrata. This recent loss combined with the 15 tanks destroyed near Misrata on April 8th and 9th totals a loss of 40 tanks for Qaddafi in three days.  (AFP)

APRIL 10: Pro-Qaddafi forces were repelled at Ajdabiya by a combination of NATO airstrikes against Qaddafi armor and a rebel counterattack. The city appeared to be back under rebel control with a rebel column of trucks parading through the city’s center. (New York Times)

APRIL 9: Pro-Qaddafi forces launched a coordinated attack on Ajdabiya that began with an artillery bombardment followed by ground troops pressing into the city. Government forces infiltrated the city as far in as Istanbul Street, the city’s center. Rebel fighters in the area fought the advancing forces to a standstill before rebel fighters rallied and pushed government forces out the city’s eastern and central districts. Firefights were reported in the southern and western portions of Ajdabiya. (New York Times)

APRIL 8: A witness in Misrata said pro-Qaddafi and rebel forces clashed over control of a key coastal road that links the town to the town’s port, a vital rebel lifeline to the outside world. (AP)

APRIL 8: Pro-Qaddafi forces assaulted the eastern side of Misrata, but were repelled by rebel forces. Rebel spokesman Hassan al-Misrati stated that government forces attempted to move in on the eastern district of Esqeer. Qaddafi’s armor also reportedly shelled the strategic road of Tripoli Street, which runs from the city’s center to the port. (Reuters)

APRIL 8: Government forces continued their assault on Ajdabiya, firing rockets at the city’s western gate. According to one report, rebels within the city collapsed back towards the city’s center. The rebels reportedly continue to hold the town. (ABC News)

APRIL 8: The UN’s children agency, UNICEF, reported that government snipers in Misrata are targeting children. UNICEF spokeswoman Marixie Mercado stated that “what we have are reliable and consistent reports of children being among the people targeted by snipers in Misrata.” (MSNBC)

APRIL 8: Pro-Qaddafi forces reportedly moved closer to Ajdabiya. A reconnaissance rebel force reported coming under fire from government forces twelve miles from the town. (Washington Post)

APRIL 7: Four journalists of the online publication, GlobalPost, were detained by Libyan government forces. Their whereabouts remained unknown as of Thursday evening. (New York Times) 

APRIL: 7: Pro-Qaddafi forces reportedly launched attacks on the Ajdabiya’s western gate, resulting in rebel fighters fleeing the town towards Benghazi. It is not apparent whether government forces entered the city, and reports indicate that rebel forces continue to hold the city. (Washington Post)

APRIL 7: Government forces are reportedly attacking rebel-held oil production facilities in an effort to cripple the rebellion’s main financial lifeline. They attacked the oil facility at Misla with rockets, setting fire to at least one oil tank. Abdeljalil Mayuf of the Arabian Gulf Oil Company (AGOCO), the Libyan state-owned oil company now run by the rebels, said the oil field at Sarir will remain closed until pro-Qaddafi forces are driven out of the area. He also stated that the Amal 103 oil field was attacked Wednesday by government forces, but could not provides details of the attack since the field is owned by a separate company, the Zueitina Oil Company. (Reuters Africa)

APRIL 7: The Libyan government stated that British warplanes struck the oilfield of Sarir, and damaged the pipeline connecting the field to a Mediterranean port. Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim said three guards were killed in the strike. NATO officials denied the accusation, asserting that skirmishes fought between pro-Qaddafi and rebel forces resulted in “at least one fire at an oil facility in the region of Sarir.” (AFP)

 APRIL 7: A rebel fighter in Ajdabiya reported that pro-Qaddafi forces struck the entrance to the city. (Reuters) 

APRIL 7: Amid rumors that pro-Qaddafi forces were advancing towards the town of Ajdabiya, rebels and residents fled the town eastwards towards the rebel capital of Benghazi. (RFI)

APRIL 7: Two rebel spokesmen in Misrata said shelling by pro-Qaddafi forces on Wednesday killed five and wounded twenty five, raising the known death toll from two. The spokesmen also said the shelling targeted the town’s port, the rebel’s only lifeline to the outside world, forcing the rebels to temporarily close it. (Reuters)

APRIL 7: When asked by US Senator John McCain whether a stalemate was emerging in Libya between pro-Qaddafi and rebel forces, General Carter Ham, commander of US Africa Command, responded that he would agree with that assessment, given the current situation in Libya. (Reuters Africa) 

APRIL 7: Media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders condemned the Qaddafi regime for expelling twenty-six foreign journalists, and stated that four journalists remain missing since Monday. (Washington Post)

APRIL 7: A rebel spokesman in Misrata, Hassan al-Misrati, stated that government forces began placing mortar units on building rooftops as to extend their range over the entire city. Residents reported that pro-Qaddafi forces, backed by tanks and snipers, have moved gradually more into the city.(Reuters Africa)

APRIL 7: Former Libyan Energy Minister Omar Fathi bin Shatwan fled to Europe from the embattled city of Misrata. Shatwan stated that members of Qaddafi’s inner circle want to flee but cannot as their “families are under siege.” Shatwan stated that Qaddafi’s military forces are compromised mainly of foreign mercenaries, which are led by pro-Qaddafi Libyans. (Guardian)

APRIL 6: In a letter to President Obama, Qaddafi asked that Obama push to end NATO airstrikes in Libya. Secretary Clinton quickly rejected the letter stating that “there needs to be a cease fire; his forces need to withdraw from the cities that they have forcibly taken at great violence and human cost.” (New York Times)

APRIL 6: Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Luis Moreno Ocampo stated that Qaddafi planned to suppress protests by killing civilians well before the armed rebellion broke out. Ocampo is seeking arrest warrants for Qaddafi, his sons, and close aids. (BBC)

APRIL 6: Pro-Qaddafi engaged rebel fighters outside Brega, who attempted to regain the town after being forced to retreat yesterday. Rebel forces moved into the outpost of al-Arbaeen, midway between Brega and Ajdabiya. Both forces have reportedly exchanged rocket fire near Brega’s port. (Reuters Canada)

APRIL 6: NATO chief of allied operations General Mark van Uhm reported that pro-Qaddafi forces have used trucks and light vehicles as to be less identifiable to NATO warplanes. Heavy vehicles, such as tanks, are being hidden in urban, civilian areas to prevent them from being targeted. (Wall Street Journal) 

APRIL 6: George Joffe, a Libya expert at Cambridge University’s Center of International Studies, classified three of Qaddafi’s brigades run by his sons Khamis, Mutassim, and Saadi, as the best of Libya’s forces. Their combined strength is estimated at 20,000 men. Joffe stated that these forces are likely used to secure the western half of the country, leaving only a fraction to fight at the main front in the east. (Washington Post)

APRIL 5: Pro-Government forces are reportedly using human shields at the western city of Misrata, preventing NATO from conducting airstrikes according to NATO reports. A doctor in Misrata corroborated the claims, stating that tanks and anti-aircraft guns are hidden “between the apartment buildings and the trees.” (CBS)

APRIL 5: A rebel spokesman called Abdelsalam reported heaving shelling of Misrata by pro-Qaddafi forces around the center of the city and the port. He said the forces used “tank fire, artillery, and mortars. The shelling started around 10am and stopped at 5 in the afternoon.” (Reuters)

APRIL 5: Pro-Qaddafi forces were accused by rebel fighters of killing two civilians in their shelling of Misrata. A rebel in Misrata called Nasser stated that “two people were killed and 26 others were injured in mortar attacks on Misrata today.” (Reuters)

APRIL 5: Government forces razed a mosque in Zawiyah that was once used as a rebel command center before government forces retook the town on March 10th. The destruction of the mosque is part of an ongoing campaign by Qaddafi to remove all symbols of the current rebellion.  (Reuters Africa)

APRIL 5: Libyan Oil Minister Shukri Ghanem expressed the belief that “there will be changes” in who leads Libya. Ghanem emphasized that a gradual transition from Qaddafi’s rule was needed, and that a rapid exit risks a “dangerous” power vacuum. Government spokesman Musa Ibrahim expressed a similar sentiment later Monday, stating that Qaddafi was needed as a “safety valve” at the top. (Wall Street Journal)

APRIL 5: According to reports, there is a divide between three of Qaddafi’s sons over the fate of their father. Saif al-Islam’s plan, which calls for a transition to a constitutional democracy under his direction, is opposed by his brothers Khamis, commander of the Khamis Brigade, and Mutassim, the National Security Advisor. Qaddafi, shaken by the defection of former Foreign Minister Musa Kusa, has reportedly placed remaining high level cabinet members and their families under house arrest to prevent further defections. (Washington Times)

APRIL 5: Brigadier General Mark van Uhm, chief of allied operations at NATO, stated that NATO airstrikes have taken out thirty percent of Qaddafi’s military capacity. Van Uhm also stated NATO airstrikes from Monday took out a rocket launcher near Brega, an air defense installation and military vehicles near Misrata, and ammunition depots around the country. (CNN)

APRIL 5: Pro-Qaddafi forces seized the town of Brega under a curtain of heavy rocket and artillery fire. Rebel fighters were forced to flee eastwards towards the town of Ajdabiya. Rebel fighter Kamal Mughrabi cited the lack of NATO airstrikes as the reason for the retreat, stating “if the planes don’t come back and hit them, we’ll have to keep pulling back.” (Al Jazeera)

APRIL 5: Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini rejected Qaddafi’s recent cease fire proposal, calling the proposal “not credible.” (Bloomberg)

APRIL 4: Pro-Qaddafi forces are reportedly indiscriminately firing upon Misrata residents according to evacuees from the city. (Reuters)

APRIL 4: Government forces surrounded and began shelling Misrata, the last major rebel stronghold in western Libya. A rebel spokesman called Gemal described the shelling as heavy and said pro-Qaddafi forces were “targeting residential areas.” (Reuters Africa)  

APRIL 4: Pro-Qaddafi forces were pushed out of the eastern town of Brega and towards its outskirts by rebel fighters. A rebel fighter in Brega, Youssef Shawadi, said government forces still held positions “at the western gate.” Rebel fighters claimed that pro-Qaddafi forces laid mines as they withdrew west from the town’s university. (Reuters Africa)

APRIL 4: Eman al-Obeidi, the woman who accused pro-Qaddafi forces of rape, told media outlets she was released from government custody and is back with her family. (CNN) 

APRIL 3: Qaddafi began diplomatic efforts by sending acting Foreign Minister Abdul Ati al-Obeidi to NATO member Greece to discuss possible resolutions. Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas said his government will “inform all our partners and allies” about Libyan proposals. Al-Obeidi is scheduled to travel to Turkey following his discussions with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou. (Washington Post)

APRIL 3: Saadi and Saif al-Islam Qaddafi, two sons of Qaddafi, reportedly proposed a resolution which would remove their father from power and install a constitutional democracy under the guidance of Saif al-Islam. A source close to the sons stated that Qaddafi was receptive to the proposal. A potential hindrance to the plan’s adoption is Qaddafi’s two other sons and military commanders, Khamis and Mutassim, who are both reportedly hard liners. (New York Times)

APRIL 2: Qaddafi rejected a cease fire proposal from the rebel Interim Transitional National Council. Government spokesman Musa Ibrahim stated government forces “will not leave our cities. We will not stop protecting civilians.” (Wall Street Journal)

APRIL 1: High level defections from the Qaddafi regime continued according to unconfirmed reports by Arabic newspapers. Mohammad Abu Al Qassim Al Zawi, the head of Libya’s Popular Committee, the country’s equivalent of a parliament, has reportedly decided to remain in Tunisia, where he was visiting for talks. (Al Jazeera)

APRIL 1: Pro-Qaddafi forces continued their artillery bombardment of Misrata, while troops in the center attacked shops and homes according to a rebel spokesman called Sami. He further reported that the pro-government forces used “tanks, rocket-propelled grenades, mortar rounds and other projectiles to hit the city today.” (Reuters Africa)   

APRIL 1: The British media reported that Mohammad Ismail, a senior aide to Qaddafi’s son, Saif-al Islam, met with British government officials for secret talks. Unconfirmed reports state that al-Islam was told that Qaddafi has to leave Libya. (Reuters)

MARCH 31: Pro-Qaddafi forces repelled a counterattack by rebels at the town of Brega. According to one report, the pro- government forces have adopted the rebel tactic of using weapon mounted pickup trucks so as to be less vulnerable to coalition airstrikes. Rebel spokesman Mustafa Gheriania stated that despite the shift in tactics, Qaddafi remains reliant on his tanks and artillery. (Guardian)

MARCH 31: Government spokesman Musa Ibrahim rejected rumors that Qaddafi and his sons had fled Libya, stating that “we are still here. We will remain here until the end.” (New York Times)

MARCH 31: Ali Abdussalam Treki, appointed by Qaddafi as Libya’s permanent representative to the UN, refused to accept the post, condemning the “spilling of blood” in a statement read by his nephew. (Reuters)   

MARCH 31: Arriving Wednesday evening in London, Libyan foreign minister Musa Kusa announced his resignation and defection from the Qaddafi regime. British Foreign Secretary William Hague cited Kusa’s defection as evidence that Qaddafi’s rule is “under pressure and crumbling from within.” Kusa is the latest senior Libyan official to have broken ranks with the Qaddafi regime. (Washington Post) 

MARCH 31: Calling from Misrata, rebel spokesman Sami reported that pro-Qaddafi forces resumed “artillery bombardment this morning. The pro-Qaddafi forces could not enter the town but they are surrounding it.” (Reuters)  

MARCH 30: Pro-Qaddafi forces, under the cover of heavy tank and artillery fire, retook the town of Brega, forcing a rebel retreat towards Ajdabiya. (Guardian) 

MARCH 30: Human Rights Watch issued a statement from Benghazi asserting that pro-Qaddafi forces are laying landmines in their campaign to seize control of the country. The statement claimed that two dozen anti vehicle and three dozen anti personnel mines had been found in Ajdabiya after pro-Qaddafi forces held the town from March 17th to March 27th. (NY Times)

MARCH 30: Pro-Qaddafi forces made significant gains in the past 24 hours, reportedly pushing rebels out of Ras Lanuf and forcing a large scale retreat from the town of Brega. (NY Times)

MARCH 29: According to one report, Qaddafi evidently places a majority of his trust in two of his militias, a combined total of 10,000 men, out of his 50,000 man army. The two militias are the 32nd Brigade, loyal to his son Khamis, and the 9th Regiment which is under the command of another son and National Security Advisor, Mutassim. (NY Times)  

MARCH 29: Eman al-Obaidi, the Libyan woman who has accused pro-Qaddafi forces of raping her, had a slander suit filed against her. Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim acknowledged the suit, adding that one of the accused is the son of a high ranking Libyan official. Conflicting stories about al-Obaidi’s whereabouts continue to circulate. The Libyan government claimed she has been reunited with her family, but her parents have said they do not know where she is. (Washington Post)

MARCH 29: Pro-Qaddafi forces outside of Sirte, backed by tanks and rockets, reportedly forced rebel forces out of Bin Jawad and back towards the eastern port of Ras Lanuf amid a lull in coalition airstrikes. (Washington Post)

MARCH 29: A rebel spokesman in Misrata, Sami, reported renewed efforts by pro-Qaddafi forces to enter the city through the western and eastern gates. Sami stated the “youths repelled them [at the western gate],” but fighting was still happening at the eastern gate. A Libyan doctor living in Britain, saying he is contact with Misrata residents, described reports that pro-Qaddafi forces are “shelling residential areas with tanks and mortars.” (Reuters Africa)  

MARCH 29: Hundreds of trucks and cars carrying pro-Qaddafi fighters were ferried to Sirte to reinforce the city. (NY Times)

MARCH 29: US warplanes struck three Libyan naval vessels stationed off the western port of Misrata. A patrol boat identified as the Vitorria was forced to beach. The US Navy reported one of the other vessels sank and the third was hit. (NY Times)

MARCH 29: The mother of Eman al-Obaidi, the young woman who has accused pro-Qaddafi soldiers of raping her, claimed a Qaddafi representative contacted her with the offer of her daughter’s release if al-Obaidi changed her story. Aishad Ahmad, her mother, instructed her daughter to “keep silent.” The Libyan government said that al-Obaidi was released on Sunday and reunited with her family. (Reuters)

MARCH 28: Amnesty International said it has compiled 30 cases of disappearances of political activists and suspected pro- rebel supporters. Malcolm Smart, the group’s director of the Middle East and North Africa, stated “it appears that there is a systematic policy to detain anyone suspected of opposition to Colonel Qaddafi’s rule, hold them incommunicado, and transfer them to his strongholds in western Libya.” (Reuters) 

MARCH 28: According to reports, Libya's Foreign Ministry declared a cease-fire in Misrata. The ministry was quoted as saying that, “anti-terrorism units have stopped firing at the armed terrorist groups that have been terrorizing. The city of Misrata now enjoys security and tranquility and public services have started to recover their ability to provide customary services to all citizens. The Foreign Ministry thus emphasises Libya's commitment to the cease-fire: it stands." (Reuters Africa)

MARCH 28: Opposition forces reached a point twenty miles east of Sirte, when Qaddafi forces raised a white flag. CNN reports that when rebel forces approached the group, government forces opened fired on them, killing an unspecified number of rebel fighters and injuring others. (CNN)

MARCH 27: Government spokesman Mussa Ibrahim made a statement charging that, "The rebels are making their advance and no one is stopping them. And no one is even talking to them or saying, 'Where are you going?' or 'Why are you taking offensive positions and attacking the Libyan army and Libyan cities?'” Ibrahim stated that NATO was "starving the Libyan population to get Libya on its knees to beg for mercy." (UPI)

MARCH 27: A Libyan woman, Eman al-Obeidy, entered a hotel full of foreign journalists to state that she had been kidnapped at a checkpoint in Tripoli and raped by militia members working for Qaddafi. A Libyan government spokesman denied the accusations, calling her a prostitute and a thief. (New York Times)

MARCH 26: A Libyan government spokesman, Mussa Ibrahim, told reporters that Qaddafi was still directing his armed forces, though did not allude to where Qaddafi was operating from. Ibrahim stated that, "He is leading the battle. He is leading the nation forward from anywhere in the country. He has many offices, many places around Libya. I assure you he is leading the nation at this very moment and he is in continuous communication with everyone around the country." (Reuters)

MARCH 26: Pro-Qaddafi forces retreated from the strategic city of Ajdabiya after rebel forces drove them back dozens of miles down the coast. At a news conference, Deputy Foreign Minister Khalid Kaim affirmed that government forces had made a “tactical pullback.” Government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim stated that even though pro-Qaddafi forces had pulled back, “we are still very strong on the ground.”  (New York Times, Washington Post)

MARCH 26: A rebel spokesman identified as Mohammed reported that pro-Qaddafi troops continued to assault rebel forces in Misrata, where Libyan tanks assaulted areas of the city center. He said that government forces took control of the main street in the city and established sniper positions in high buildings. (Washington Post).

MARCH 25: After rebel forces entered the town of Ajdabiya from the east, pro-Qaddafi fighters were pushed to the west of the city. Government forces were captured in the fighting, which lasted throughout the day on Friday. (Al Jazeera)

MARCH 25: Libyan state television reported that Qaddafi has decided to promote all members of his armed forces. A written announcement stated that, "(The) brother leader of the revolution has issued a decision to promote all members of the armed people who are currently drafted in his various military units for their heroic and courageous fight against the crusader, colonialist assault. The promotion includes all members of the general security and police." (Reuters)

MARCH 25: At an African Union meeting in Addis Abbaba, Ethiopia, Libyan government official Mohammed al-Zwai said that Tripoli is ready to abide by an AU roadmap to resolve the crisis. The AU roadmap declares that all hostilities must cease and there must be "cooperation on the part of the relevant Libyan authorities to facilitate humanitarian aid," and "protection for all foreign nationals, including African migrant workers." Al-Zwai also demanded "the cessation of the air bombardment and the naval blockade carried out by Western forces and the United States." Rebel forces were not present at the meeting. (Al Jazeera) 

MARCH 25: Qaddafi forces have retaliated against coalition air-strikes on the outskirts of Tripoli with anti-aircraft fire. Anti-aircraft fire reportedly burst out but then fell silent. (CNN)

MARCH 25: Reuters reported that three explosions have been observed outside of the eastern entrance to Ajdabiya. At the time of the explosion, pro-Qaddafi forces had been firing artillery shells to hold-off an advance by the opposition movement. (Reuters)

MARCH 25: In Misrata, rebel sources have reported that regime military forces surrounding the city seem to have pulled back due to airstrikes blocking their communication and supply lines. Khalid Kaim, the deputy foreign minister, denied that the opposition movement had made battle gains. (New York Times)

MARCH 25: Moussa Ibrahim, a government spokesman, pleaded with international forces to spare communication infrastructure within the country. He said, "Communications, whether by phones or other uses, are civilian and for the good of the Libyan nation to help us provide information, knowledge and coordinate everyday life. If these civilian targets are hit, it will make life harder for millions of civilians around Libya.” (NPR)

MARCH 25: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has stated that representatives of Qaddafi's government and the Libyan opposition will be attending an African Union meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Friday, on Libya. The U.N. chief said his special envoy to Libya, former Jordanian foreign minister Abdelilah Al-Khatib, as well as representatives of relevant countries and regional organizations will also attend in hopes of reaching a cease-fire and political solution in the North African country. Five African heads of state will reportedly be in attendance. (ABC, AP)

MARCH 24: AFRICOM Commander Gen. Ham reported that pro-Qaddafi forces are making advances in Misrata, with his men dressing as civilians. (ABC)

MARCH 24: Mussa Ibrahim, a spokesperson for the Qaddafi regime, has claimed that at least 100 civilians have been killed by air strikes since the bombing campaign began. However, Ibrahim added that the Ministry of Health had yet to make exact figures public. (Telegraph)

MARCH 24: Pro-Qaddafi forces shelled areas in Ajdabiya where they control the northern and western entries into the city. Ajdabiya is an oil town 100 miles south of opposition-held Bengazi. (CNN)

MARCH 24: A Libyan G-2/Galeb trainer aircraft attempted to fly near Misrata before being destroyed by French fighter jets enforcing a no-fly zone. (AP)

MARCH 24: Pro-Qaddafi forces have between 30-50 tanks positioned outside of Zintan, 90 miles southwest of Tripoli, where fighting has receded in recent days according to local journalists and rebels. (Reuters)

MARCH 24: Libya’s deputy foreign minister claimed that the shut-off of water and electricity into Misrata was “just a technical problem due to damage and looting.” (Financial Times)

MARCH 24: Qaddafi’s foreign ministry confirmed that a military compound at Juffra had been the recent target of airstrikes. (AP)

MARCH 23: Tanks controlled by Col. Qaddafi’s forces re-entered Misrata in the evening after having pulled back amidst coalition airstrikes, according to local witnesses. The forces shelled areas around the main hospital in Misrata. (BBC, Financial Times)

MARCH 22: Pro-Qaddafi forces shelled areas outside of Ajdabiya, 100 miles south of opposition-held Benghazi. (The Guardian)  

MARCH 21:  Col. Muammar Qaddafi vowed to maintain his position and declared his readiness to fight “a long, drawn-out war with no limits” against coalition forces. (AFP)

MARCH 18: Pro-Qaddafi forces shelled Misrata, 103 miles east of Tripoli, at 0700 local time after entering the city with T-72 and T-55 tanks. A witness reported that the forces possessed around 40 tanks and assaulted the city for several hours before retreating. (Reuters)

MARCH 18: Libyan Foreign Minister Mussa Kussa announced that “Libya has decided an immediate ceasefire and an immediate halt to all military operations.” (BBC) 

MARCH 17: Forces loyal to Qaddafi moved towards the oil town of Zueitina, 180 miles south of Benghazi. Libyan state television claimed loyalist forces captured Zueitina, a claim rebel spokesmen denied. (Reuters)

 

MARCH 16:  Qaddafi loyalist began attacking the town of Zintan, 75 miles southwest of Tripoli. Witnesses reported sustained shelling from tanks and rockets outside of the city. A column of 15 tanks were spotted north of the town, while 40 army vehicles approached from the south according to some residents. (AFP)

 

MARCH 15: Pro-Qaddafi forces advanced into Ajdabiya, launching strikes against rebel fighters. Libyan air force jets struck targets in Ajdabiya and along the road to Brega. A local resident said Libyan helicopters dropped leaflets calling for residents to support Qaddafi in return for amnesty. (Bloomberg)

 

March 15: Pro-Qaddafi forces re-captured the oil port town of Brega. A rebel said “We have lost Brega completely. We could not face Gaddafi’s forces.” (Reuters)

 

MARCH 14: Pro-Qaddafi forces launched counter-offensives against the towns of Zuwara and Ajdabiyah. Pro-Qaddafi tanks rolled into Zuwara’s town center, 68 miles west of Tripoli, as rebels fled the town. Libyan jets launched airstrikes against rebel forces in Ajdabiyah. (Reuters, Haaretz)

 

MARCH 14: Unconfirmed reports from residents and activists in Misrata indicated that Libya’s elite Khamis Brigade clashed with soldiers from the local Hamza Brigade after several dozen soldiers defected. The clashes apparently took place within a Libyan army base. (Telegraph) 

 

MARCH 13: Pro-Qaddafi forces captured the oil town of Brega in the early hours of the morning. However, rebels claimed they had retaken the town later that night: “Tonight [Brega] is back in the hands of the revolutionaries, but they will probably come back tomorrow with big machines, bomb it and take it back again,” a rebel fighter said. (Reuters)

 

MARCH 11: Pro-Qaddafi forces launched air and amphibious strikes against the oil town of Ras Lanuf. A pro-Qaddafi force of roughly 150 men and three tanks moved in by land while a naval force of 40 to 50 men in three boats landed near the town, according to local rebel fighters. (Reuters)

 

MARCH 10: Pro-Qaddafi forces re-took the town of Zawiyah, 30 miles west of Tripoli, after several days of shelling and airstrikes. (BBC)

 

MARCH 7: Pro-Qaddafi forces captured the town of Bin Jawad, 30 miles from Ras Lanuf. (BBC)

 

MARCH 5: Pro-Qaddafi forces attempted to assault Zawiyah, 30 miles west of Tripoli, at 0600 local time with “heavy forces, hundreds of soldiers with tanks” but faced resistance according to rebel fighters. (Reuters)

MARCH 4: Pro-Qaddafi troops reportedly surrounded and re-took the town of Zawiyah. State television claimed 31 tanks, 19 troop carriers, and heavy weapons such as anti-aircraft guns and rocket propelled grenades were seized. Chinook helicopters, which can carry up to 50 soldiers, were seen flying westwards towards Zawiyah from Tripoli. The Libyan Army has several Chinooks in its inventory. (AFP)  

MARCH2: A pro-Qaddafi force of roughly 100 men mounted on 50 trucks and SUVs took an oil refinery in the town of Brega. The Brega rebel force, reinforced by fighters from Ajdabiya and Benghazi, successfully repulsed the attack while suffering 10 killed and 18 wounded. (AP) 

MARCH 1: Pro-Qaddafi forces retook the mountain town of Gharyan in the Nafusa mountain range, 70 miles south of Tripoli, in a “surprise attack.” Qaddafi’s forces attempted to identify and detain defecting army soldiers and protestors. (FOX)

FEBRUARY 28: Pro-Qaddafi forces, believed to be part of Muammar Qaddafi’s son Khamis’ private militia, launched failed attacks on Zawiyah. The first occurred after midnight when pickup trucks attempted to enter the eastern gates, but were repelled by rebel sentries. The second occurred in the early evening when three pickup trucks entered from the west, but were repelled when two of the three trucks were neutralized. Six pickup trucks failed again to breach the eastern gate. A rebel fighter in Zawiyah claimed two trucks and dozens of soldiers were captured in the final attack, and that 8 of the captured soldiers defected to the rebels. A Libyan government spokesman confirmed 10 soldiers had been killed. (NYT)

FEBRUARY 28: Libyan Air Force personnel based near Sirte conducted a bombing raid of three targets south of Benghazi and outside Ajdabiya flying MiG-23s. The bombing of a fourth target, an air base in rebel-held Benghazi, was called off on account of anti-aircraft fire from rebel forces. (NYT)

FEBRUARY 27: Rebels in Zawiyah stated that nearly 2,000 pro-Qaddafi fighters have taken positions around the city. (Reuters)

FEBRUARY 25: Qaddafi stated he would open arms depots to his supporters. (Guardian)

FEBRUARY 24: Pro-Qaddafi forces fired upon protestors gathered at a mosque in Zawiyah. A local doctor stated he saw 10 dead and around 150 wounded. (AP) 

FEBRUARY 24: Pro-Qaddafi forces armed with rocket-propelled grenades and mortars attacked a small airport outside of Misrata. The attackers were repulsed by an anti-aircraft guns used by the airport’s defenders. A medical official said six rebels and one pro-Qaddafi fighter were killed in the firefight. (AP)

FEBRUARY 22: Appearing on Libyan state television, Qaddafi rejected rumors he had fled to Venezuela, and stated that he remained in Tripoli. (BBC)

FEBRUARY 21: Qaddafi continued his crackdown by ordering Libyan military aircraft to attack protestors in Tripoli. The attack was an attempt to prevent the protestors from reaching an army base and obtaining arms. (Haaretz)

FEBRUARY 19: Pro-Qaddafi forces attempted to put down the unrest in Benghazi with further crackdowns against protestors. The civilian death toll was raised to an estimated 84 dead in three days. (Guardian)

FEBRUARY 18: Pro-Qaddafi security forces continued to clash with protestors in Benghazi. Security forces are also believed to have clashed with protestors in the neighboring city of Al-Bayda. (BBC)

FEBRUARY 17: Clashes continued between pro-Qaddafi security forces and protestors in a planned “Day of Revolt” spanning four cities. Residents of Benghazi reported 15 people killed in violent crackdowns by security forces. (Al Jazeera)

FEBRUARY 16: Clashes occurred between pro-Qaddafi forces and protestors in Benghazi. Popular protests in Libya began amid the successful overthrow of the established regimes in Tunisia and Egypt. (Reuters)