5 generals among latest Libyan defectors

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Source: AP/Miami Herald

Five Libyan army generals who defected from Moammar Gadhafi's regime are appealing to fellow officers to join them in backing the rebels.

Italian foreign ministry officials presented the generals, two colonels and a major at a news conference in Rome Monday.

Gen. Melud Massoud Halasa said Gadhafi's forces are only 20 percent as efficient as they were before the rebellion, and at most 10 generals are still loyal to him.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/30/2242318/5-generals-among-latest-libyan.html

[tabasco]

1. How can you have generals in a country run by a colonel?

Did Old Mooey-Mar give himself a promotion?

:shrug:

[Blue State Bandit]

3. Qadhafi abolished all ranks above colonel when he took over.

Either someone at the Herald is confused, the Italian FM is confused, or or Berlusconi is just makin' shit up.

[DCBob]

5. I suspect these Generals dont give a shit what Qadhafi claims to have "abolished"..

Moomar is soon to be a footnote in Libya history books.

[tabatha]

2. "..saying there had been a lot of killing of civilians and violence against women."

"The eight officers said they defected in protest at Gaddafi's actions against his own people, saying there had been a lot of killing of civilians and violence against women.

They said that Gaddafi's armed forces' campaign against rebels was rapidly weakening.

British-based Libyan opposition activist and editor Ashour Shamis said he was aware of reports from opposition sources that eight high ranking Libyan officers including four generals had defected and were in Rome.

"This will create its own momentum against Gaddafi, increasing the pressure on him," he said. He said he had no word on the defection of as many as 100 officers.

Noman Benotman, another opposition activist who works as an analyst for Britain's Quilliam Foundation think tank, said he had heard that many officers had defected, without elaborating."

http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE74T1OL20110530?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true

Some "propaganda" when it comes from ex-Gaddafi officers. Guess it is like global warming - deny all the evidence and believe what you want.

[DCBob]

4. more on this.. 8 generals and 100+ soldiers. this may finally be the end game.

Tripoli, Libya (CNN) -- Eight generals from embattled Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's army have defected to Italy, the Italian Foreign Ministry told CNN Monday.

The generals were accompanied by more than 100 Libyan soldiers, a senior Italian official with first-hand knowledge of and responsibility for the operation said. The Libyans crossed their country's border into Tunisia, where they were met by Italian intelligence agents, the official said. The news came on the same day that South African President Jacob Zuma met with Gadhafi to push for a cease-fire between Gadhafi's forces and rebel fighters, officials said.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/05/30/libya.war/index.html?hpt=T1