Misratans heavily involved in hostilities in and around Sirte

Concentrated fighting in Sirte, occupied by Colonel Mu'ammar Qadhafi's supporters, has caused much bloodshed, and losses will be calculated in thousands before an outcome is achieved both there and in Bani Walid. According to Menas sources, the Misratans are particularly heavily involved in the hostilities in and around Sirte. It is thought that local commanders of the rebel forces anticipate the core of the town to fall into their hands within a few days. Some 70 per cent of the area of Sirte has already been taken.

Misratans have complained bitterly about the lack of support from surrounding Libyan areas that have mobilised irregular forces at their disposal. Reinforcements, it seems, have been slow to arrive even though some of the groups are within 60km of Sirte itself. As was expected, resistance in the town has been strong, with parts of the brigade formerly under Khamis Qadhafi in place with substantial armaments and missiles.

The heavily armed and well trained Qadhafi troops have been more than the lightly-armed rebels can cope with on a hit-and-run basis. In Bani Walid, some of the resistance has been felt but the rebels have yet to concentrate the bulk of their armour. On the military side, events appear to be heading for a grim form of attrition, which could affect the response of other communities lying in the south-west of Sirte including Orfella, Bani Walid and other tribes of the interior.

This judgement takes no account of the dedication of the rebels but is realistic in relation to the smaller groups situated in the Orfella/Soffegin valleys. Their loyalties to local tribal alliances could prevail and act as a serious constraint on an advance by the rebels. It could also result in loss of momentum.

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© 2011 Menas Associates

Qadhafi's chief aide arrested in France

Colonel Mu'ammar Qadhafi's chief aide has been arrested in France. Nuri Al-Mismari was arrest on 28th November at the request of Libyan authorities, and presented to the French prosecutor's offices in Versailles the next day. He will be detained while awaiting a formal extradition request from Libya.

On Monday, the Libyan regime publically acknowledged al-Mismari's defection. A number of sources close to Qadhafi said that al-Mismari dissented from the regime and left for Tunisia before eventually fleeing to France.

The French authorities arrested al-Mismari on charges of financial violations and squandering of public funds filed by Libyan authorities. Al-Mismari is the first Libyan official to defect from the regime. According to a number of sources al-Mismari fled Libya for fear of being apprehended by the authorities. It is believed that al-Mismari became privy to a bill of indictment detailing charges against him in preparation for his arrest.

Al-Mismari travelled to Tunisia on official business, and then absconded to France where he has reportedly submitted an official request for political asylum. He refused to return to Libya, sending a message to Qadhafi, via a Qatari official, stipulating conditions for his return.

There has been no official announcement by the Libyan authorities about the ramifications of al-Mismari's defection. However, one Libyan news agency has disseminate news of his arrest, saying that a prominent Libyan official has been arrested in France after Libya had submitted a request to the French authorities to remand him in custody in response to an arrest warrant issued by Tripoli.

It has emerged, that shortly after al-Mismari's defection the Libyan authorities imposed a semi-house arrest on his family preventing his wife and daughter from travelling abroad to join him.

Source: Reuters

For more news and expert analysis about Libya, please see Libya Focus and Libya Politics & Security.