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Latest update: 01/04/2011
- Arab world - Libya - Muammar Gaddafi
Libya, the battle of the East (part 1)
In the desert, anti-Gaddafi rebels launch their attack. For several days they seem unstoppable, Libya’s fate hangs in the balance. Having gained control of the east, the rebels move west, convinced that victory is close. Our reporters followed the advance of these young men who decided to grab a weapon and join the rebellion.
By Cyril VANIER
A special report by FRANCE 24's team: Jean-Marie Lemaire, Cyril Vanier, Chady Chlela, Jérôme Bonnard, Catherine Norris Trent, Willy Bracciano et Khalil Béchir.
Watch the second part of our exclusive report on Libya: 'The battle of the East'
I think the defining moment of our assignment in Libya took place in our hotel room in Ajdabiyah on Tuesday March 8th, as Ahmed finished trimming our sideburns. We were sending our latest report to the newsroom, and while the satellite fed the file through to Paris, we got the local barber to give us a cut.
He couldn’t have been more than 20 years old, dressed like a back-up dancer in a music video: sneakers, faded jeans, flashy T-shirt. As he put away his scissors, he looked slightly uneasy:
“Sorry guys, I have to go."
"Where?" we asked.
"To the frontline. I’m going to fight.”
The young, slightly chubby, fashion-conscious barber from Ajdabiyah was telling us he couldn’t hang around because he had a war to fight. One more combatant had joined the ranks of Libya’s rebellion.
Did he have any kind of military training? Did he know how to handle a weapon? No. But his friends were going, and he would too.
Ahmed packed his scissors, refused to take any money for the haircut, and left.
Although we did encounter some professional soldiers within the ranks of the rebellion, the majority of the insurgents we met were like Ahmed: improvised fighters.
We don’t know how much action Ahmed actually saw, how much fighting he got done, but that was the feeling in Ajdabiyah at the time: anyone who could, should rush to the frontline.
The rebels just prayed that their audacity and enthusiasm would translate into military victories. And for a while they did. Rebels made significant gains early March, capturing the towns of Brega, Ras Lanuf and Ben Jawad. But pro-Gaddafi forces mounted a counter-offensive and swiftly repelled the insurgency in those towns.
The inside story posted on this page brings together reporting from three separate France 24 teams in Libya - in the capital Tripoli and on the east coast - to give you a comprehensive picture of what is happening on the ground.
Watch the short version of our special report
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React to the article
(21) Reactions
libya
by Anonyme - 03/05/2011 - 19:54
f24 must add depth and detail esp on reporting like aljazeera.i enjoy yo news esp covering conflict areas
libyan conflict
by Anonyme - 26/04/2011 - 12:21
may the best happen for libya with americans on your side definately you are the agressors
african elections
by Anonyme - 17/04/2011 - 14:58
we are hoping that once the arabs are liberated to freedom the next should be africa where the leaders just like gbabgo of ivory cost have refused to conduct free and fair elections. the west should look at elections in Chad, Nigeria and cameroon
my worries about the people of Lybia
by Anonyme - 16/04/2011 - 16:08
I as a human don't think that, the people of Lybia should be held responsible the suffering that they are going through. Let the President be held hostage by God so that, one day he might faced the criminal Court of justice. thanks for informing those who need this information
invasion in libya
by Anonyme - 13/04/2011 - 15:56
there are many other ways of controlling the situtoin in libya .in point of atteking any country is just a step in worsening the sitution
THE ROAD TO .....BACK BACK B4 I WAS BORN
by Anonyme - 12/04/2011 - 16:29
According to what i see western countries e.g USA are still at large for african soils and raw resources e.oil and minerals this apply in this case hu knows where does this war/conflics in the arab countries begin this is simple USA and its friends has found the way to control countries with oil now they get help from the rebels they use them as protesters who knows what will happen after gadaffi looses power they might start to kill rebels,now that libya will have no security who will protect libya from civil wars and other conflicts yet again america will rase hands now that they are briging peace to libya after gaddafi looses powers wht is their reward for their effort "OIL",they START TO TRADE THEIR HELL!P WITH LIBYAN RESOURCES,i hate western countries they are the bad influence on earth though they act like sweet angles they are hynas wearing sheep leathers.......................
HE is a great leader
by Anonyme - 12/04/2011 - 15:21
Salute the greatest ruler of our time Muhammar gadaffi.the one who has survive all political and economy sanctions for over 35yrs still builds africa's best nation economicaly and standardly.You hate his face but we love his ideas and boldness.But you never love any africans face,but we build your world and even the white house .WE ARE AFRICAN the most bless race and continet.LONG LIVE GADAFFI a true african hero.
Mouvement de soutien à Kadhafi : Les vraies raisons de la guerre
by Anonyme - 10/04/2011 - 23:44
Please post the link below:
http://lefaso.net/spip.php?article41507&rubrique7
Mouvement de soutien à Kadhafi : Les vraies raisons de la guerre
Report on LIbya by Shadi Shalala
by Anonyme - 06/04/2011 - 14:33
Just watched the excellent report filed by Mr, Shadli Shalala on France 24 Arabic. By far, the best report prepared by any Arabic-language reporter to date. Bravo!
Gaddhafi is still ruling
by Anonyme - 05/04/2011 - 23:18
Gaddhafi is still controlling and ruling Libya,with his militiary cohorts who are there by his choosing and salaries etc ,who want to exploit Libya further and will ruthlessly crush the rebels and innocent population will be murdered ,wounded and women raped,molested -being inhumanely punished for Freedom,democracy and the crude Petroleum with which he has bought hundreds of billions of dollars of weapons and he is blowing them for continuing his dictatorship.France ,USA,UK and NATO have enforced No Fly Zone and having involved so far ,should destroy his militiary and his family and him.
about the war
by Anonyme - 03/04/2011 - 12:27
Hello Sr
I am carlos Nzita leave in Angola ,Libya was the most one in Africa has botten a good Economie and peoples are not got a hard file than other countries we know.
why europe has not got the war only Africa and do not tell us because yours are got a good political ship.
We after libya it well be other country you know quite well in africa anyway do not forget if you killed someone on the gun you have to know the even staf well back to you.
Carlos Nzita
Angola Luanda
Linya
by Anonyme - 01/04/2011 - 07:46
Brutal action by USA and Europe on Libya is an open violation of basic human rights. War is no way to achieve peace.
Kadafi is still in power
by Anonyme - 31/03/2011 - 09:37
It is very hard to fiht a government in power. He has an Army set to fight on behalf of his government. As long as his government has men and amunitions he will hold on to his power.
It will be a hard fght. If a " Coup d'Etat" is set frm among his Administration he would be arrested and held for further decision of the Judiciary Power of the Country. It will be a long war. Outside ingerence could play a part. How much? is yet to be desired. ho would finance such fight? All outside interests could be involved. Let's wait and see how it will develop.
Max
Libia, the battle of the East
by Anonyme - 29/03/2011 - 23:46
In every revolution there is an "Ahmed". When the battles run its course, all the Ahmeds will be forgotten. Only the politicians, the generals, the corporations will receive medals, offices and nice cars, and contracts. The Ahmed families, nothing. It's always been, it will always be. I salute you Ahmed.
Ibiya another Iraq or Afaganistan
by Anonyme - 29/03/2011 - 02:25
The people of Eastern libiya divided by US & European (NATO), the rebels are untrained youths they get killed for the sake of US/NATO their ultim,ate goal is destruction of Libiya. This is nothing other than "WAR IN IRAQ & AFGANISTAN". Libiyan people who are against Gaddafi should read the history of uneding war's Iraq & Afganistan.
libya
by Anonyme - 28/03/2011 - 23:35
Gaddafi is a real african hero ,he will never fail ,God love africa even the western countries don't like us,they will fail ,we know their target is oil.
If only they were as good
by Anonyme - 28/03/2011 - 07:26
If only they were as good fighters as they were idealists...
watch out of American and Eurpean
by Anonyme - 26/03/2011 - 09:59
You will be robbed of your oil and gass
COALITION FORCES AFTER LIBYA OIL
by Anonyme - 26/03/2011 - 07:41
WHY PROTECT CIVILIANS IN THE REBEL AREAS ALONE AND KILL THOSE ONES IN GADAFF AREAS,U S A and france bangwagon are the number one violater of human rights.sending gadaffi away from libya is right but what about Somali,ivory coast,its because they dont have oil,God should destroy America for killing and looking for riches instead of saving the lives of people.One day the whole world will turn Against u Americans.Derrick- Kenya (East Africa)
Corrections
by Anonyme - 25/03/2011 - 17:38
Great report
two corrections though
the man on the phone said "we bombed a 24 car" not "24 cars"
24 is a name used for one of the 4x4 Toyota pick-up models.
and the translation for the chant shown in the subtitles "children of the capital, beware" isn't correct, the right translation is "young men of the capital, we want a definitive night"
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