Libya

[2 As and a B]

Clever. Two photos of people doing the same act, with the obvious inference that the situations are the same, only our stupid leader doesn't realise it. Very clever.

I wonder what Mubarak would have said about the two situations (if he'd wanted to stick his nose into internal UK affairs).

[nexus]

Craig Murray on Berlusconi:

A very senior diplomatic source told me yesterday that Berlusconi is frantic lest Gadaffi falls and the channels are revealed by which Berlusconi gets a cut on the huge amounts of Libyan oil and gas lifted to Italy. Just at the moment that would be too much even for Berlusconi to survive.

This morning I see the Italian foreign minister is warning 300.000 Libyan refugees will fly to Europe if Gadaffi falls – as though there will be none if he stays. I have checked with other diplomatic sources, and they confirm that Italy is using the refugee warning to argue that Europe should back Gadaffi, and not impose sanctions. That point is not coming over in the mainstream media.

[biffvernon]

I'm not sure how the Al Jazeera newsreader kept a straight face as he read that Gadaffi had called upon all Libyans to fight all Libyans for the sake of all Libyans.

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/oman/prot ... r-1.768508

[Aurora]

Associated Press - 27/02/11

Britain on Sunday froze the U.K.-based assets of Libyan ruler Moammar Gadhafi, members of his family and their representatives in accordance with U.N. sanctions imposed on Libya.

Those affected include Gadhafi's four sons and one daughter, the Foreign Office said.

"I decided to implement this UN resolution in the U.K. as quickly as possible, before the financial markets reopened," Treasury chief George Osborne said. "This is a strong message for the Libyan regime that violence against its own people is not acceptable."

No immediate figure was put on the value of the assets, which banks and other financial institutions are now under an obligation to track down and freeze. Cash, shares, bonds and property are among the items affected.

The Times newspaper reported this weekend that Gadhafi deposited 3 billion pounds ($4.8 billion) with a London private wealth manager last week. The report did not cite sources.

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[2 As and a B]

A glimpse into Gaddafi's palace

http://english.aljazeera.net/video/afri ... 58202.html

[Aurora]

BBC News - 28/02/11

Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi has told the BBC he is loved by all his people and has denied there have been any protests in Tripoli.

Col Gaddafi said that his people would die to protect him.

He laughed at the suggestion he would leave Libya and said that he felt betrayed by the world leaders who had urged him to quit.

US ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said the interview showed Col Gaddafi was "delusional" and "unfit to lead".

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'All my people love me' -