Here are some of the latest developments and headlines about the conflict in Libya. Check back through the day for updates:
Update at 11:10 a.m. ET. Eyewitness In Misurata Talks of Dangers:
NPR's Andy Carvin ( @acarvin) just spoke briefly with a man named Yusuf who is in Misurata, Libya, and helps run the musurata17musrata channel on YouTube.
According to Yusuf, there are snipers loyal to Gadhafi in the buildings. "People cannot walk safely," he said. Food is in short supply, as is water. Only one small hospital is operating, Yusuf said, and it is short on medicines.
Update at 10:30 a.m. ET. More On The Rebels' Cease-Fire Conditions:
Reuters and other news outlets continue to report that a spokesman for the opposition said that rebels would agree to a cease-fire if Gadhafi's forces leave cities in western Libya. But NPR's Eric Westervelt — who was at the opposition news conference — says the opposition's cease-fire conditions still include Gadhafi's departure.
"Our main demand is getting rid of Gadhafi and his sons from Libya. We will not go back on this demand," the head of the rebel's national council, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, said.
And that is a condition that has so far been flatly rejected by the Gadhafi regime.
Our Original Post
-- Gadhafi Envoy Has Reportedly Been Talking To British: "A Libyan government envoy, Mohammed Ismail, has been in London in the past few days for talks with the British authorities, the BBC has learnt. The Foreign Office said that in all its contacts with Libyan officials, it had made it clear that 'Gaddafi has to go.' "
-- Fierce Battle In Brega: "Anti-government fighters are locked in a fierce battle with government troops for control of Libya's eastern oil town of Brega. The two sides clashed on the outskirts of the town on Friday a day after pro-democracy forces scrambled to flee amidst fighting with troops loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi." ( Al-Jazeera)
-- "Libyan Defections Raise Hopes As Rebels Struggle":"U.S. and European officials say they expect more defections from senior officials in Col. Moammar Gadhafi's regime and are seeking to engineer that, while Tripoli swirled with rumors of who might be next, following the defections of Libya's former foreign minister and its ambassador to the United Nations." ( The Wall Street Journal)
-- Intelligence Chief Denies Defection Report: "Libya's chief of intelligence is knocking down rumors that he is among the government insiders who have abandoned their embattled leader, Moammar Gadhafi. Libyan state TV aired a phone interview with the official, Bouzeid Dorda, who denied that he defected and said he will not 'betray the people or the leader.' " (The Associated Press)
-- Opposition Sets Terms:"Libyan rebels fighting Muammar Gaddafi said on Friday they would agree to a ceasefire based on conditions including that the Libyan leader's forces quit cities in the west and give the people freedom to speak out." (Reuters)
Note: NPR follows Associated Press style on the spelling of Moammar Gadhafi's name. Other organizations spell his name differently.
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. 9(MDAxNDQ2NDAxMDEyNzU2NzM2ODA3ZGI1ZA001))
