Libyan representatives have reported they are ready have more talks with the United States and Libyan rebels in an effort to further push Libyan Leader Muammar Gadhafi from power.  According to a Libyan government spokesman, Gadhafi "will not bow to demands he leave power."  After a productive dialogue with Libyan representatives and the U.S. last week where the U.S. officially recognized Libya's rebel government, government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said, "We believe ...

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's son, Seif al-Islam, said in an interview that the Libyan government is "holding real negotiations with France and not with the rebels." He reportedly said, "the French officially informed us that they wanted to set up a transitional government in Libya." A French Foreign Ministry spokesperson denied reports of beginning direct negotiations with the Gadhafi regime, but acknowledged that indirect contact had been made. And French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet ...

As Libyan rebels continue to make progress toward moving into Tripoli despite heavy casualties.  They have battled west from Misrata toward Zlitan and after six weeks of stalemate, rebels have pushed back the forces of Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi. Tripoli still remains about 125 miles away. However, Gadhafi continues attacking the opposition on the Libyan frontline by relying on heavy artillery to defend their positions. Gadhafi supporters rallied in Green Square ...

New York Times' C.J. Chivers reports that 13 pro-Qadhafi soldiers and 7 rebels were killed on Wednesday when rebel troops took Qawalish, a small mountain town situated outside the capital of Tripoli. The rebel troops also took 15 pro-Qadhafi soldiers as prisoners. The rebels are inching their way towards the capital in hopes of disrupting the supply lines which feed Qadhafi's troops weapons, fuel, and other war-related goods. William Maclean asks ...

The African Union called on members to disregard the warrant for Muammar Gadhafi's arrest that was issued by the International Criminal Court.  According to the AU's chairman, Jean Ping, the court was "discriminatory and focused on crimes committed in Africa but ignored those committed by Western powers including in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan." On Friday, Gadhafi said that he would attack European "homes, offices, families" unless NATO stopped their attacks in Libya. ...

Josh Rogin argued for Foreign Policy that the rejection of H.R. 2278, sponsored by Rep. Tom Rooney (R-FL) and designed to cut funding for the Libya campaign, does not reflect support for the administration's involvement in Libya. Rather, up to 70 of the 149 Democrats who voted against the bill are opposed to the Libya intervention, and "they voted 'no' on the Rooney's bill because they thought it was too weak, ...

The Tunisian state news agency reported yesterday that three Libyan ministers, including Foreign Minister Abdelati Obeidi, held talks with "foreign parties" in Tunisia, possibly signaling that some leaders from Gadhafi's inner circle are seeking a political settlement. Gadhafi has reiterated that he will not step down, and a government spokesperson renewed the offer for elections, while maintaining that Gadhafi is the "historical choice." Writing for Time, Tony Karon argues that a diplomatic compromise is forthcoming, citing ...

Battles between Colonel Moammar Qadhafi's forces and rebel fighters have increased in Nalut, a northern city, starting on Friday where eight rebel fighters have died and more than 13 have been wounded. Fights began after the rebels took over two kilometers of land west of Misurata in central Libya. As the violence increases, NATO has claimed that Qadhafi's forces are using mosques and children's parks as shields while "systematically and brutally" ...

On Thursday, The Brookings Institution hosted a discussion entitled “Libya and the Responsibility to Protect.”  Peter Rundlet, Vice President of Humanity United, introduced the event and the moderator Mike Abramowitz, Director of the Committee on Conscience at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.  The panelists were Richard Williamson, Nonresident Senior Fellow for Foreign Policy at The Brookings Institution, Manal Omar, Director, Iraq and Iran Program, United States Institute for Peace (USIP), ...

Colonel Moammar Gadhafi's forces killed nearly 30 people and wounded more than 100, mostly rebel righters, in Libya's rebel-held city of Misrata on Friday.  A British spokesman reported that U.K. helicopters destroyed a regime military communications installation and several rocket launchers on Thursday.  In addition, rebels reported that NATO jets bombed Gadhafi forces on friday, however, these claims have not been confirmed. Casualties among the pro-regime forces were unknown, but Gadhafi's ...

Last week, Colonel Moammar Gadhafi sent a letter to Speaker John Boehner's office thanking members of Congress for criticizing President Barack Obama for his involvement in the NATO-led military operation in Libya. A spokesman for Boehner's office reported that they were unable to vouch for the authenticity of the letter. “I want to express my sincere gratitude for your thoughtful discussion of the issues. We are confident that history will see the ...

On Wednesday General James L. Jones, former National Security Advisor gave a speech entitled “The New Security Dynamic in the Mediterranean” at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Global Security Forum 2011.  Admiral Guido Venturoni, former Chairman of the NATO Military Committee introduced General Jones.  Craig Cohen, Vice President for Research and Programs at CSIS moderated the event.  The two discussants were Dr. Stephen Flanagan, Senior Vice President ...

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will travel to the United Arab Emirates soon to meet with members of the Libyan Contact Group. Assistant Secretary of State Jeff Feltman is currently in Abu Dhabi in preparation for the Contact Group meeting. Meanwhile the Senate Foreign Relations Committee postponed a planned session to discuss and possibly vote on another resolution about U.S. military involvement in Libya. NATO secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen called on alliance members ...

British and French helicopters attacked Colonel Moammar Gadhafi's forces for the first time in Libya on Saturday. Forces joined the opposition effort by hitting military vehicles, equipment and government forces. British helicopters targeted a radar installation and military checkpoint near Brega. This effort signified NATO's dedication to extending their mission in Libya for another 90 days. The Libyan government claimed that NATO has surpassed the limits of their UN mandate ...

On Wednesday the House of Representatives delayed a vote on H.Con.Res. 51 by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), which calls for the end of U.S. involvement in the NATO mission in Libya. Fearing the resolution's passage, GOP leaders worked Wednesday and today to come up with alternatives that would not adversely affect the NATO mission.  Today Rep. Kucinich argued in a press release that Congress "cannot stand by idly as a war of choice with significant ...

  NATO has extended its mission in Libya for another 90 days.  NATO General Secretary Fogh Rasmussen said, "This decision sends a clear message to the Gaddafi regime: We are determined to continue our operation to protect the people of Libya."  Libyan government spokesman in Tripoli, Mussa Ibrahim, said that the NATO campaign has wounded 4,067 people, however this has not been independently verified. Contrary to the Libyan government's stated position, evidence has ...

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini met with Ali al-Essawi the Foreign Minister of the National Transitional Council (NTC) and called on Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi to step down saying, "The Gaddafi regime is finished, he must leave office, he must leave the country."   Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also announced plans to travel to the U.A.E. on June 9 to meet with the Libyan Contact Group to discus the ongoing military engagement and other ...