Rebels reach Tripoli
Rebel fighters celebrated victory in Tripoli’s Green Square last night as heavy fighting continued in the capital. Hours after Colonel Gaddafi congratulated his forces for standing firm, his son Saif al Islam was arrested by the opposition, the International Criminal Court confirmed. The rebel troops landed by sea to re-inforce an uprising inside the capital, signalling that the bloody endgame to the civil war was fast approaching, with revolutionary forces surrounding the city. The regime sent tanks into residential areas and opened fire on protesters in an attempt to claw back control. Gaddafi turned thousands of troops on opposition members inside the capital, with claims from fleeing residents of homes destroyed and roadside executions. But some of the rebel fighters entering Tripoli from the western side of the city were greeted by cheering crowds late last night, with some people tearing up portraits of Gaddafi. Mohammed Ilyash, an engineer, one of those celebrating, declared: “This is the birth of new Libya. We are seeing our country coming out of a dark and frightening time. We welcome our young men who are bringing us freedom.” His friend, Omar Ali Baidi, added: “We now want to see justice catch up with Gaddafi and his family.” However, ferocious fighting continued at other parts of the city late into the evening as Col Gaddafi, in an audio broadcast, called on the people of Tripoli, including women, to resist the “collaborators with the imperialists”. – the Independent
Hundreds of rebel fighters pushed into the centre of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, late on Sunday as their battle to overthrow the 42-year rule ofMuammar Gaddafi moved closer to ending in victory. Rebels waved opposition flags and fired guns into the air in jubilation after reaching Tripoli’s central Green Square, the symbolic heart of the city, in the early hours of Monday morning. Delighted residents were seen pouring into the streets to celebrate and greet the rebel fighters as they advanced through the suburbs towards the centre. The prosecutor of the international criminal court said one of Gaddafi’s sons, Saif al-Islam, who has been indicted along with his father on crimes against humanity charges had been detained. The head of the rebel Transitional National Council, Mustafa Abd el-Jalil said that his fighters who had detained Saif al-Islam had been given instructions to “treat him well”. There were also reports that Gaddafi’s eldest son, Mohammed, and the presidential guard had surrendered but Gaddafi’s Bab al-Aziziya compound was still under the control of the regime. – the Guardian
Little real action to reduce gangs
“Gang-busting” measures championed by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith are in doubt because of budget cuts. Waltham Forest Council yesterday attacked the Government for failing to support a best-practice gang-tackling project. The East London council claims the project, which has been running since January, has been an “uphill struggle” because of funding shortages. In Birmingham today a man will appear in court accused of the murder of three men hit by a car during the 10 August riots. The three men were protecting the Winson Green area from looters when they were struck. – PoliticsHome
Prince Charles’ charities push government for support
Prince Charles’s charities have lobbied government ministers and senior officials to change policies on politically sensitive topics including VAT rates and regional development spending, according to letters and emails obtained by the Guardian. In a series of interventions that will re-ignite debate about the Prince of Wales’s alleged “meddling” in politics, charities set up by the prince in line with his social and environmental goals have called on the government to change policies. Business in the Community, a charity of which Charles has been president for 25 years, urged the business secretary, Vince Cable, to rethink a decision to scrap the Northwest Regional Development Agency, according to documents released under the Freedom of Information Act. In another case, the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment urged the local government minister, Grant Shapps, to incorporate greater community engagement in planning and promoted its own planning work around the country as something for him to consider in the national planning policy framework. – the Guardian
Gimmick: take your minister to work day
The government has been accused of using “gimmicky” policies over a scheme to get families into work. The project, revealed yesterday, will involve ministers volunteering to mentor a family in which two or three generations have not worked. The politicans involved include Tim Loughton, the Children and Families Minister, and the Employment Minister Chris Grayling, The Sunday Times reported. The Department for Education confirmed Mr Loughton’s involvement, but Mr Grayling told Sky News that his participation was “news to me”. Vernon Coaker, the Shadow home office minister, dismissed the idea as “gimmicky”. He said: “It smacks of something that gets a headline, but what is going on underneath?” – the Independent
