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Subscribe to RSSUnable to communicate by phone after crossing from Egypt into Libya on Tuesday, NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel reported via text messaging and Twitter that he encountered only protesters and military defectors in the eastern region of the war-torn country.
Days after Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s security forces unleashed the bloodiest crackdown of any Arab country against the current wave of protests sweeping the region, Engel said the opposition was in control along the country’s eastern border.
“No army presence in border area,” he wrote, noting it was now in “protesters’ hands.”
Later, he reported from Tubruk that the city had “fallen" and the army forces were with the people. “All soldiers tell us they are with the people. … Army switched sides in this area.”
“Soldiers tell us they refuse to fire on own people..'our army like Egypt. Won't kill its people,'” he said.
He witnessed people cheering “Libyans unite,” saw a partly-burned army base near the border and signs on the road calling for tribes to stay united. He was told by a gunman: “I’ll say this openly … we must go on to topple the regime.”
Tribal members told Engel that some soldiers had resisted joining them, while others had turned in their weapons. He reported seeing some former soldiers alongside “sons of revolt” and encountered several informal checkpoints – organized by tribes – that were manned by men with hunting rifles and clubs.
Engel also reported that some Libyan demonstrators said they had "captured a group of mercenaries...including at least one from Niger."
The streets of eastern Libya were calm, Engel wrote, though people complained of shortages of rice, flour, sugar and oil. Graffiti on one wall read: “Down Gadhafi.”
In a reminder of the protests sweeping the region and which toppled the government to Libya’s east, Engel noted thousands of Egyptians crossing the Libyan border to head home.
Engel and his crew were unable to establish a voice connection with a satellite phone, but he was able to text messages to NBC’s London bureau, where a producer was publishing them via Twitter.
Follow Richard Engel on Twitter. http://twitter.com/richardengelnbc
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I wold say the Colonel is in a tight what? His days are numbered, he just hasn't accepted that as yet. Moving to venezuela, probably not a real safe haven for him nor does Chavez want to babysit an ousted dictator....might cause trouble for Chavez in the future.
Now I am applying for a job as a courier, I suggest the colonel do the same or, better yet, maybe he could open up a chain of Fried Chicken Restaurants. Name them Colonel Gadahfi and chage those damned robes for a nice white suit with blak bowtie.
Muie, probolem solved baby!
Okay, that was funny!
to small stuff...the 'robes' aren't damned. They are also the cultural garment of many arabs who are putting their lives on the line for democracy.
Shut up Mary, always some PC flack to correct us when we say what we mean. Blah blah blah cultural garments, blah blah. Just shut up allready. Your caring of the Arabic people sickens me.
Colonel Gadafhi's Tripoli Fried Chicken, a side order of homemade falahfal, and a buttermilk biscuit. MMM MMM. Now, who could protest that?
When do you suppose the state run media will start covering the real issues like fuel prices? We need to start drilling oil here before the supply and demand gets way out of control. Atleast we wouldn't have to depend on foreign oil. Plus we get jobs. Build refinery,s and keep America running. Oil prices would drop in half if Obama just lied about drilling...
We only get 9% of our oil from the Middle East we don't need it and it does'nt affect the price .Speculators in the 3 major stock markets set oil prices .try to guess who they work for
OPEC sets prices. Libya is a member.
I don't think OPEC sets the prices. I think they mandate production limits, which can ultimately drive a price up or down. The price of barrel of oil is determined by commodity traders. Watch prices soar in the midst of fear and panic, but likely no real cutback in overall production.
Every dictator who survive this long must get helps from the super power like the U.S.
we never supported that regime. Libya was a rogue state according to our state department. You'd be surprised what people can do without the aid of the US. We are not behind every world evil.
Not from former president Bush. This war criminal business about GWB stated with Gadhifi himself,
so I know then-President Bush did not back him, no way.
The US had close ties with Lybia -- including military base rights -- during the Libyan Kingdom years (the Kingdom was very pro-West).
The US has not backed Libya since the end of the Kingdom, in 1969, when Muammar al-Gaddafi assumed power. To put it mildly, relations between the two countries have been strained ever since.
It is true though that tensions eased a bit, and diplomatic ties were restored in the early 2000s during President Bush's tenure.
Can't buy into the US providing support. Seem to remember the US of A blowing up one of MG's houses killing one of his kids. That ain't love, not even tough love.
Don't know for sure but I'm thinking the US provides little, if any, aid to Libya.
Also, to another post, the US's energy consumption would do little to directly support MG's regime. There is still decent oil and gas production in various parts of the US, plus we're (Canadians) supplying (forget the exact %) but well over 50% of your oil and gas, plus a whack of electricity. If the US became extremely energy efficient it would probably hurt Canada more than Libya.
In any event, I think we all agree its time for another nutjob to bite the dust. Hopefully the following government is less whacko.
We didn't support this regime. And after the bombing of the Pam Am flight sometime back, there are those in the US who would be rather displeased if he got support. AKA the family members of those who died...
Though, and all said in recent years, some have argued that Gadhafi was a reformed man. Reformed, I believe not. His actions over the past few days alone show his true colors. And the statement from his insane son? Gadhafi Jr. do NOT presume to know what all of us over here believe or would want, with the whole "the west wants you to fail" line, in a speech where threats (not just warnings, that whole speech was a threat) of the streets will run red with blood, and we'll fight to the last bullet. Both Gadhafi's are disgusting. In conscience I could not support the acts of this regime... And if driven out of Libya, I'll say this, I wouldn't want that murderious madman in my back yard.
Gadhafi might well find that no country will want him. Shooting at, and possibly bombing civilians from airplanes and the like, is truly evil and disgusting.
Golly, we'll miss him. NOT!
The U.S complains about Terrorism in Libya, but buys oil by the millions of barrels a day, and give this terroristic regime millions of dollars in FORIEGN AID, supporting this creep. If he does not Leave Libya he deserves the same treatment he is dishing out to those seeking democracy a big hole in his empty head.
That is because you libs refuse to help America drill and refine our own oil. You libs are just a bunch of cry babies that cannot make up your mind about what you want. Come 2012, when this country gets 'righten' you will see jobs and the economy and a great America be reborn.
So explain how this is a liberal issue? GW was at the switch for 9/11 and he started TWO wars that we are stuck funding and ignored the signs of the economy crashing. Obama stepped up to save us from Depression and now you clowns are blaming us. that's like a homeowner blaming the firefighters for making a mess in putting out the home fire that they started by smoking!
Libya is not on the foreign aid list. At least not as of 2010.
Rob; All oil is sold on the world market regarless of where it is drilled including our oil
The power of the people trumps the power of the despot! No despot is worth anything unless he serves his people. The harder he fights to stay when he's asked to step down, the more he proves it and the more desperate his people to be rid of him. His power rests solely on whether or not his people acquiesce to him now. It about time they realized it. No government should be composed of any more than public servants seeking to do the best by the people they serve and are part of. Good for the Libyans and Egyptians for coming this far!
I bet Rove and Chaney must be really pissed that all their work to enslave the Arab world for their masters has completely fallen apart. I do feel sorry for Chaney as he has been qouted that " Mubarek is my friend and America's friend." It's tough to lose friends.Get ready for the American oil companies to "rape" the American people on the guise that this unrest has caused prices to sky rocket. My question is what does this have to do with American produced oil which the States of Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma are pumping faster than anytime in our history. Enemies from within= Big Oil
You are all wrong, the enemy of America are you libs that refuse to work and drill for our own oil and jobs created by building and refining our own oil. You and the socialist in the white house will be gone after 2012 and America will prosper again. I guess after blaming Bush and that not working now you got to blame Rove and Cheney. You are a joke!
What does it ever have to do with the price of oil? It's all driven by commodities speculation and traders. Prices always jump UP immediately based on an infinite number of excuses ,but you'll notice the prices are very slow to go back DOWN even long after the latest excuse has run its course.
About George W. Bush when everybody is blaming you for everything and you don't cave in, you own the
world, and it is still his world. O, the WMds were later shipped to Syria for safekeeping by Saddam who
was a tyrant but not stupid.
Miker; finally someone that has a clue about the price of oil,we get 9% of our oil from the middle east we actually don't need it Canada will supply an extra 9% if we ask
How much american oil is being sold on open the open market, and how much russian oil can american oil co. purchase? I hope americans will voluntarily reduce oil consumtion and not let high prices force us to cut back. Theres not much we can do about what's going on in the middle east and yes china will buy what we don't use but we reduce demand and reduce supply prices
Canada has oil. Canada has Socialism and Canada has happiness. Capis Arabs? Surely you don't want to emulate our busted butts, grid lock politics and greed is good ways
Socialists just want the Fat Cats to make an honest living and actually EARN their money instead of ripping us off for it via their greed is good ways. The Upper Class is OUR Royalty. They deposit 1 dollar in their own banks and get 17 in return to invest. No WONDER they own everything. And now Uncle Ben over at the Fed is giving them 100 billion a month at 0% to invest in commodities. That way the Upper Class Portfolios are inflated and artificial wealth is created
richard engal rocks.... he is the best middle eastern correspondent... if you wanna kno what is going on there... listen to his reports....
True ownership of most oil companies lies outside of the USA. We own nothing here really.We are but cash cows for the moneyed people on this earth.We will pay higher prices for everything because of this turmoil, but, we probably will get more middle eastern food places here as these freed people from the Arab nations stretch out around the world.:) Maybe its time to base a world economy on the needs of mankind instead of want fulfilment for the wealthy ,and leaving the trickle down theory to fulfill the needs of the common man.
I believe in a job for every human, and a living wage with every job,including health care, dental , eyecare retirement ,vacations and education.
So Mobarak was Americas patsy-gone. Now Ghadafi who was Britains patsy is fighting to keep his patsy position. Our patsies have fairly civil manners. Britains patsies, now thats a whole different ballgame. Remember what was once India.
msk - World demand has a greater impact on prices than what we do or don't do with drilling. Go back and look at the price spikes a couple years ago. Chinese demand for diesel was shooting thru the roof and the market reflected that. As soon as their demand cooled, prices dropped. OPEC has a lot to do with supporting certain prices but World demand raise them
Why is their no news article about the libiot unions and elected reps playing hooky from their jobs? They are getting paid by us for a job that they are not doing. I see on TV that they are getting fraudulent doctors slips.
Fire them all. Dump the unions. Unions for government emplyees is unconstitutional. Tell your elected official to dunp the union or, if they are a libiot evading their responsibility paid for by the citizens, tell them to go to work!!!!!!!!!!
you are on the wrong planet, again. You would do well to learn how to read then you could be like most people and be in the right place.
We truly live in an amazing time. This information could not have reached us in an earlier time. Regimes like this maintained their position because they could drop a blanket of secrecy around the country and do what ever there wanted to take back control. Now, the world is watching and making decisions. This is a good thing.
Kdaffy must have thought it was going to end but he is so seriously messed up he was willing to drag his country through this kind of hell before he could be forced out, I guess he thought his progeny could salvage the rule. The best thing his son could do is off the old man, set up an interim government and set a deadline for him to bow out.