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2003-12-24 Africa: North

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Posted by Steve 2003-12-24 1:46:29 PM|| || Front Page|| [6 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Here's more from the National Post:
The Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) is the most powerful radical faction waging holy war against Col. Gaddafi. It aims to establish an Islamic state in Libya and views the current regime as oppressive, corrupt and anti-Muslim, CSIS said. "The group has clearly stated its view on the use of force, promoting the ideology that Libyan people can only gain freedom by actively supporting the mujahedin in the war against Gaddafi's regime," the report said. "In order to achieve their goals, the LIFG has made numerous attempts to kill Colonel Gaddafi," said the "Unclassified: For Official Use Only" report, dated September, 2002, and titled Libyan Islamic Fighting Group.
Headed by Anas Sebai, a key al-Qaeda leader, the Libyan fighting group includes about 2,500 "Libyan Afghans" who fought in the 1979-89 Soviet War in Afghanistan and then returned home to ignite an Islamic rebellion. The group's stronghold is in the mountains on Libya's northeast coast. "Using the mountains around the Benghazi and al-Akhdar area as a base, the LIFG employs ... guerrilla tactics to attack Gaddafi's forces and then retreat into hiding." Three other armed groups, the Islamic Movement of Martyrs, Libyan Jihad Movement and Islamic Movement for Change, are also battling Col. Gaddafi and at one point had "thousands, if not tens of thousands of supporters," CSIS said.
"All Libyan Islamist terrorist groups, including the LIFG, are believed to have links with neighbouring Islamic extremist groups in Egypt and Algeria. Furthermore ... the LIFG has openly pledged to show support and loyalty to all jihad groups everywhere. This has led the LIFG to be recognized as a key component in the global network of militant Islamic groups," the CSIS report said. The LIFG began trying to kill Col. Gaddafi in 1995 and its last attempt was in August, 1998, when the colonel's motorcade was attacked. The LIFG smuggles weapons into Libya from neighbouring North African countries, and is funded by private donations, Islamic aid agencies and criminal activity, CSIS said.

Posted by Steve 2003-12-24 2:26:34 PM|| 2003-12-24 2:26:34 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 Now wouldn't that be deliciously ironic?

Posted by Tibor 2003-12-24 3:33:31 PM|| 2003-12-24 3:33:31 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 Christmas just keeps coming this year.

Posted by Charles 2003-12-24 6:51:09 PM|| 2003-12-24 6:51:09 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 The British newspaper The Observer reported last Sunday that Libya provided intelligence on hundreds of al-Qaeda and other Islamic militants, as well as renouncing attempts to develop weapons of mass destruction, in a bid to end its pariah nation status. This must have gotten Al Qaeda more than a bit peeved at Mr. Gadhafi. Perhaps we will hear more about this in the coming weeks... I am wondering whether this new information might have contributed to America's heightened alert state since this info seems to have been transferred just recently.

Posted by Lars 2003-12-24 7:43:31 PM|| 2003-12-24 7:43:31 PM|| Front Page Top

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