Sadder Fate’s to Front, Electricity in Government, ’’Time’s’’ Balnford A Witness
However, the mouse and cat game still governs the Libyan scene.
Moaamar Gaddafi is absent, nobody knows where he is but surely rebels can't announce complete victory as their tyrant is still free.
Although it is early to answer doubtful questions on the possibility that the man turns to a new Saddam, many stress that Gaddafi is in his last corner at Bab al- Aziziya, the huge man's complex was the focal point of fighting in Tripoli.
Gaddafi, His Son Still Free
Whether there or not, the truth is that the 42-old regime has been toppled and the US with its Western companions will try to begin gathering gains through the expected extension of the NATO mission in Libya, the declared intervention in determining the course of the country, and the sharing of channels to take advantage of the oil resources.
US President Barack Obama, saying the conflict was not over yet, cautioned rebels against exacting revenge for Gaddafi's brutal rule.
"Although it's clear that Qaddafi's rule is over, he still has the opportunity to reduce further bloodshed by explicitly relinquishing power to the people of Libya and calling for those forces that continue to fight to lay down their arms for the sake of Libya," said the US president.
"Above all we will call for an inclusive transition that leads to a democratic Libya," Obama claimed.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who took an early gamble on the rebels and may now reap diplomatic benefits, called Gaddafi loyalists "to turn their back on the criminal and cynical blindness of their leader by immediately ceasing fire."
Late Monday, Sarkozy spoke to Britain's David Cameron by telephone about the Libya situation, according to a press release from the French presidential palace.
"They both agreed to pursue efforts in supporting the legitimate Libyan authorities as long as Col. Gaddafi refuses to surrender arms," the statement read. Paris has offered to host a summit on Libya soon.
Cameron also spoke to Obama Monday night.
Staff from Italy's Eni arrived to look into restarting facilities, said Foreign Minister Franco Frattini.
Meanwhile, Moammar Gaddafi's strong son, Saif al-Islam, who rebels said they had captured made a surprise appearance with jubilant supporters in Tripoli overnight and issued a rallying cry to loyalists to fight off opponents who announces they control most of the Libyan capital.
Saif al-Islam visited the Tripoli hotel where foreign journalists are staying to declare that the government was winning the battle against the rebels.
"We broke the back of the rebels. It was a trap. We gave them a hard time, so we are winning," he said.
When asked if his father was safe and well in Tripoli, Saif told journalists: "Of course."
Sadder's Fate a Lebanese Interest
Mariam Ali
Colonel's Era came to an end.
"I don't imagine the Bab al-Aziziyah compound will fall easily and I imagine there will be a fierce fight," Abdel Hafiz Ghoga, spokesman for the rebel National Transitional Council declared.
As the swift military advance of recent days revived questions about the shadowy role of foreign special forces on the ground, first signs emerged of moves to begin restoring oil production that has been the foundation of the economy and a source of hope for Libya's 6 million, mostly poor, people.
Commenting on the Libyan developments, Lebanon was united in hailing the Libyan victory parallel to calls to uncover whereabouts of the resistance Leader, Imam Musa al-Sadder and his two companions, who disappeared in Libya on August 31, 1978.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour said that "the toppling of Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi's rule will allow Lebanon to determine the fate of Imam Moussa al-Sadder and his companions."
"Lebanon has never stopped searching for al-Sadder and his companions and now we have an opportunity to reveal their fate," he added.
"When matters return to normal in Libya, we will take the necessary measures with the concerned sides in Libya to reveal the truth," Mansour stressed.
Electricity on Top
In another context, the government Tuesday is expected to discuss the power plan - submitted by Energy Minister Jibran Bassil - during a meeting to be held in Beiteddine, the Chouf Mountains.
The ministerial meeting held Monday at the Serail to discuss the electricity issue raised the level of service-oriented and social priorities once again despite the continuing repercussions of the fabricated "TIME" interview.
This meeting, which was chaired by PM Najib Mikati and attended by 17 ministers, resulted in a comprehensive review of the plan based on the decision to adopt its goals, take time to examine it and develop the necessary legal and technical constraints.
Following Monday's meeting, Acting Information Minister Wael Abou Faour said the government could either approve the electricity plan during Tuesday's session or postpone talks.
He also dismissed the political nature of the discussions.
"As-Safir" Lebanese newspaper reported "signs which emerged on the eve of the meeting ruled out the likelihood that the government would approve the proposal during today's session as the issue requires further debate on a mechanism for implementation as well as establishing a regulatory body."
The concerned minister, Bassil told "as-Safir" that "the government either adopts this vital issue that benefits all the Lebanese people and not just a certain part, and therefore achieves an accomplishment for the whole government parties... or it falls under failure from the beginning."
Describing the plan as vital to solve the electricity crisis, Bassil expressed that "we are always ready to clarify and answer any explanation about the plan and its feasibility."
For his part, Minister of State for Administrative Reform Mohammad Fneish told "as-Safir" that "the part pertaining to the emergency plan, which has already been adopted and included in the 2010 budget, is a necessary and pressing item."
"The ministry is ready to implement it based on a definite program and specifications," he clarified.
Time's Interview Continuous Repercussions
Within the framework of the "TIME" interview scandal legal repercussions, Attorney General Said Mirza took the statement of US magazine Beirut correspondent Nicholas Blanford.
Following the meeting, Blanford abstained from revealing the content of his statement, merely emphasizing that the interview with the so-called accused was put in connection with his article upon the magazine's request and was sent to him from New York.
Blanford said that if the Special Tribunal for Lebanon investigators wanted to speak with him, he would cooperate.
"If they wanted to meet me and talk, I can't say no," he said.
The journalist's lawyer, Hussein Qazan, informed "an-Nahar" daily Tuesday that Mirza summoned Blanford as a witness, who informed the general prosecutor that he didn't carry out the interview.
For his part, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said the article was "dangerous" and sought to target Hizbullah.
"We have to be careful not to allow these attempts to harm our stability," he said. "Journalists have an important and effective role in this."
"The relationship between the STL and the Lebanese government is through the Prosecutor General's office and when there are any issues within the prerogatives of the Interior Ministry we won't hesitate and will cooperate all the way to the end," Charbel was quoted as saying by the Central News Agency.
Meanwhile, Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc leader MP Mohammad Raad and former Constitutional Council member Salim Jreissati are to hold a press conference at noon Tuesday in the parliament building regarding the indictment and Hizbullah's response to it.
Lebanon's Maritime in UN
In parallel, Lebanon asked the United Nations Monday to take sufficient measures to prevent any danger to international peace and security that might arise from "Israeli" violations of its regional waters.
"The geographic demarcation that "Israel" submitted to the UN of the northern part of its regional water and what "Israel" claims to be its regional waters and Exclusive Economic Zone clearly violates Lebanon's sovereignty and economic rights," Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour said in a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
"We ask Ban Ki-moon to take sufficient measures to prevent any conflict in order to preserve international peace and security according to decision 1701," Mansour added.
Source: Newspapers
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