dagblog - Comments for "Qaddafi Forces Seize Another Rebel Stronghold"

Anthony Shadid, who wrote the

artappraiser — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 02:23:47 +0000

In reply to Qaddafi Forces Seize Another Rebel Stronghold

Anthony Shadid, who wrote the first report on this post from Ajdabiya, has gone missing,

along with 3 NYT colleagues:

Four New York Times Journalists Are Missing in Libya
By Jeremy W. Peters, New York Times,: March 16, 2011, 1:07 pm

The New York Times said Wednesday that four of its journalists reporting on the conflict in Libya were missing.

Editors at the paper said they were last in contact with the journalists on Tuesday morning New York time. The paper said it had received second-hand reports that members of its reporting team on the ground in the port city of Ajdabiya had been swept up by Libyan government forces.

The paper’s executive editor, Bill Keller, said The Times had not been able to confirm that information.

“We have talked with officials of the Libyan government in Tripoli, and they tell us they are attempting to ascertain the whereabouts of our journalists,” Mr. Keller said. “We are grateful to the Libyan government for their assurance that if our journalists were captured they would be released promptly and unharmed.”

The missing journalists are Anthony Shadid, the Beirut bureau chief and twice winner of the Pulitzer Prize for foreign reporting; Stephen Farrell, a reporter and videographer who was kidnapped by the Taliban in 2009 and rescued by British commandos; and two photographers, Tyler Hicks and Lynsey Addario, who have worked extensively in the Middle East and Africa.....

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/four-new-york-times-jou...

And fearing reprisals, they

we are stardust — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:39:57 +0000

In reply to Qaddafi Forces Seize Another Rebel Stronghold

And fearing reprisals, they conclude only a fight to the death is practical. Tragic is the right word.

This is tragic.

Donal — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:34:34 +0000

In reply to Libyan Oil Buys Allies for

This is tragic.

Libyan Oil Buys Allies for

artappraiser — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 03:24:51 +0000

In reply to Qaddafi Forces Seize Another Rebel Stronghold

Libyan Oil Buys Allies for Qaddafi
By Jeffrey Gettleman, New York Times, March 15, 2011, 9:30 PM ET

Lede: Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi has tapped oil reserves to buy allegiance from groups and governments in Africa, recruit mercenaries and blunt criticism.

BAMAKO, Mali —....“We’re all ready to die for him,” Mr. Maiga said. “He’s done so much for us, after all.”....

Libya rebels face last stand as Gaddafi forces zero in on Benghazi
By Chris McGreat in Benghazi, Guardian.co.uk, March 15, 2011, 18:18 GMT

Libya's revolution was facing collapse as Muammar Gaddafi's forces broke through the last major line of resistance before Benghazi, the heart of the uprising and the seat of the rebel administration.

Pro-government forces pushed back the rebels in an air and land assault on the town of Ajdabiya, as the regime moved to crush the revolution once and for all before foreign powers could agree measures in support of the uprising, including a no-fly zone.

The rebels had pledged a vigorous defence of Ajdabiya but swiftly lost control of large parts of the town, including the strategically important coastal road, although pockets of fighting continued. The regime's advance leaves the road open to Benghazi, 90 miles away, where there was growing alarm as word of the latest military setback spread.

"The battle is lost. Gaddafi is throwing everything against us," a rebel officer who gave his name as General Suleiman told Reuters....