Libyan rebels poised to take Zawiya

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

Libyan rebels are engaged in fierce fighting for control of the crucial town of Zawiya, west of Tripoli. Reporters accompanying the rebel advance on the town, which suffered a long siege from pro-Gaddafi forces, reported that a six-hour battle had pushed the frontline closer to the capital than at any point since the uprising against Muammar Gaddafi's regime began.

Eyewitnesses reported heavy clashes as a rebel force of about 200 fighters reached a bridge on the south-west outskirts of the city, located around 50km west of Tripoli. Some rebels pushed farther towards the city centre.

An Associated Press reporter travelling with the rebels saw hundreds of residents rush into the streets, greeting rebels with chants of "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest).

The English language services of al-Arabiya and al-Jazeera claimed that rebels had advanced into the town itself, a claim also made by social media sources who said that rebels had reached the town centre.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/13/libyan-rebels-zawiya-muammar-gaddafi

[UnrepentantLiberal]

1. Go rebels!

[ellisonz]

2. Let's hope they didn't have time to lay mines.

[EFerrari]

3. Or kill any black Africans.

[formercia]

4. Looks like a brand-new Dragunov Sniper Rifle

being held in the photo.
That fires the 7.62x54 cartridge, about as powerful as the US 30-06. Good to 600 Meters at least.

[Kurska]

5. Close, but you're wrong that is a Pusca Semiautomata cu Luneta.

PSL's are a romanian rifle that also fires 7.62X54R ammunition. You can tell because of the spacing of the trigger guard to the magazine, on PSL's there is very little space on Dragunov there tends to be more.



Here is a picture that should simplify what I'm talking about. The top is PSL and the bottom is a Dragunov. Both are quality firearms, but dragunovs tend to be much more expensive.

Frankly I like the ergonomics of the PSL more than the Dragunov, but that is all personal preference.

[formercia]

9. Ergonomics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Noo2HNj5vM&NR=1

[cqo_000]

6. Tripoli disputes reports that rebels have captured Zawiya

Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim claims “The city is under our control”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-13/libyan-rebels-claims-that-town-of-al-zawiya-was-taken-disputed-by-regime.html

[pinboy3niner]

7. AP video of rebels in Zawiya:

Published on Aug 13, 2011 by AssociatedPress

Libyan rebels fought their way into the strategic city of Zawiya west of Tripoli on Saturday, in their most significant advance in months (Aug. 14 2011)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOHy8lXRx-Q&feature=player_embedded

[joshcryer]

8. Alex Crawfords report in March, before Gaddafi laid siege:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_lQY7PuH7M

[pampango]

10. Libyan rebels fly flag over key town near Tripoli

http://www.euronews.net/2011/08/14/libyan-rebels-fly-flag-over-key-town-near-tripoli/

Libyan rebels have raised their flag in a strategic town near Tripoli, marking their most dramatic advance on Colonel Gaddafi’s stronghold in months. Their arrival in Zawiyah deals a blow to the regime.

But it is unclear whether they have succeeded in severing the vital coastal highway to Tunisia which keeps the capital supplied with food and fuel.

The government denies losing control of Zawiyah, 50 kilometres from Tripoli and insists the coast road remains open. It has also played down reports of rebel attacks in Garyan, south of the capital. In the east, rebel forces continue to fight Gaddafi’s soldiers in the oil town of Brega.

While Tripoli appears unlikely to change hands imminently, rebels now look to be in their strongest position since the uprising began in February.

[Igel]

11. "Seige."

It was occupied. It was the rebels and NATO who did their best to prevent food, medicine, fuel, and other supplies from getting in, who maintained an offensive line not far from the city, who staged air raids and targeted bombings to take out infrastructure and any "forces" (from tanks to police checkpoints).

Then again, it's unclear what "occupied" means. Jerusalem is "occupied," but then again so is Boston.