Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi’s forces shelled rebels regrouping outside a strategic eastern city yesterday, and his snipers and tanks controlled the streets of the last opposition-held city in the west, signaling a prolonged battle ahead.
Disorganization among the rebels could hamper their attempts to exploit the air campaign by US and European militaries. Since the uprising began on Feb. 15, the opposition has been made up of disparate groups even as it took control of the entire east of the country.
Regular citizens — residents of the “liberated” areas — took up arms and formed a highly enthusiastic, but undisciplined force that in the past weeks has charged ahead to fight forces, only to be beaten back by superior firepower. Regular army units that joined the rebellion have proven stronger, more organized fighters, but only a few units have joined the battles, while many have stayed behind as officers struggle to get together often antiquated, limited equipment and form a coordinated force.
The ragtag band of hundreds of fighters who made their way to the outskirts of Ajdabiya yesterday milled about, clutching mortars, grenades and assault rifles. Some wore khaki fatigues. One man sported a bright white studded belt.
Some men clambered up power lines in the rolling sand dunes of the desert, squinting and hoping to see Qaddafi’s forces inside the besieged city of 140,000 that is the gateway to the east.
Misrata, the last western city held by rebels, was being bombarded by Qaddafi’s forces yesterday, his tanks and snipers controlling the streets, according to a doctor there who said civilians were desperately searching for shelter and food.
Speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, he said if the city falls to Qaddafi’s troops, international forces would be guilty of failing to protect civilians as promised under the UN resolution authorizing military action in Libya.
“Snipers are everywhere in Misrata, shooting any one who walks by while the world is still watching,” he said.
The air campaign by US and European militaries that began on Saturday has unquestionably rearranged the map in Libya and rescued rebels from what had appeared to be imminent defeat.
On Monday night, Libyan state TV said a new round of strikes had begun in the capital, Tripoli, marking the third night of bombardment. However, while the airstrikes can stop Qaddafi’s troops from attacking rebel cities — in line with the UN mandate to protect civilians — the US, at least, appeared deeply reluctant to go beyond that toward actively helping the rebel cause to oust the Libyan leader.
US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and others said the US military’s role will lessen in coming days as other countries take on more missions and the need declines for large-scale offensive action like the barrage of Tomahawk cruise missiles fired on Saturday and Sunday mainly by US ships and submarines off Libya’s coast.
RESTAURANT POISONING? Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Victor Wang at a press conference last night said this was the first time bongkrekic acid was detected in Taiwan An autopsy discovered bongkrekic acid in a specimen collected from a person who died from food poisoning after dining at the Malaysian restaurant chain Polam Kopitiam, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said at a news conference last night. It was the first time bongkrekic acid was detected in Taiwan, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Victor Wang (王必勝) said. The testing conducted by forensic specialists at National Taiwan University was facilitated after a hospital voluntarily offered standard samples it had in stock that are required to test for bongkrekic acid, he said. Wang told the news conference that testing would continue despite
The government is aiming to recruit 1,096 foreign English teachers and teaching assistants this year, the Ministry of Education said yesterday. The foreign teachers would work closely with elementary and junior-high instructors to create and teach courses, ministry official Tsai Yi-ching (蔡宜靜) said. Together, they would create an immersive language environment, helping to motivate students while enhancing the skills of local teachers, she said. The ministry has since 2021 been recruiting foreign teachers through the Taiwan Foreign English Teacher Program, which offers placement, salary, housing and other benefits to eligible foreign teachers. Two centers serving northern and southern Taiwan assist in recruiting and training
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