Rebels climb over and stamp on iconic gold statue of Gaddafi

Libyan rebel fighters at the entrance of Bab al Aziziya compound in Tripoli. Rebels and journalists are now inside the Gaddafi compound. CBS correspondent Barry Petersen tells SkyNews he is inside the Gaddafi compound, he is in front of that gold statue where Libyan

Fighters were seen climbing over the iconic gold statue of a fist holding a US plane and stamping on the statue of Gaddafi's head. Images on SkyNews showed rebel fighters tearing up posters of Colonel Gaddafi and firing in celebration.

Meanwhile, A US lawmaker fiercely opposed to NATO's role in the Libya conflict called Tuesday for the alliance's military chiefs to be held to account under international law for the deaths of Libyan civilians. "Otherwise we will have witnessed the triumph of a new international gangsterism," Democratic Representative Dennis Kucinich, a leading opponent in the US Congress to Washington's role in the fighting, said in a statement. Kucinich said that NATO forces had flouted UN Security Council resolutions in acting as "the air force for the rebels, who could not have succeeded but for NATO's attacks" and had "illegally pursued regime change."

"NATO's top commanders may have acted under color of international law but they are not exempt from international law," he said, as opposition fighters captured Muammar Gaddafi's fortified Tripoli compound. "If members of the Gaddafi regime are to be held accountable, NATO's top commanders must also be held accountable through the International Criminal Court for all civilian deaths resulting from bombing," said Kucinich.
NATO has insisted that its attacks are in keeping with UN resolutions passed this year which allow military action to protect civilians in Libya.

But UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed alarm at the number of civilian casualties in the conflict, including those inflicted in NATO air strikes. And NATO's air attacks have drawn harsh criticism from members of the UN Security Council, including Russia, China, Brazil, India and South Africa, who say the action goes beyond UN resolutions on Libya.

Libyan rebels entered Muammar Gadhafi's Bab Al-Aziziya compound; Reuters reporters at the compound said that Gadhafi forces defended the compound but resistance has now stopped. According to Al Jazeera, rebels have entered Gaddafi's house after breaking into the Bab Al-Aziziyah compound. Libyan rebels were seen firing into air inside Gadhafi compound in celebration. The Pentagon said on Tuesday the Libyan rebels appeared to be in control of most of Tripoli, adding that it was sticking to its assessment that Muammar Gaddafi had not left the country. Pentagon spokesperson Colonel Dave Lapan added that although the command capabilities of Gaddafi's forces had been diminished, they remained dangerous. He also said the United States was monitoring Libya's chemical weapons sites, amid concern in Congress that those weapons could fall into the wrong hands, reported Reuters.

Meanwhile, The most senior foreign policy figure in the EU, Baroness Catherine Ashton, is giving a a news conference where she said that the UN should play the key leadership role; but the EU will be ready to respond. "I call again [on Gaddafi] that he should recognise the will of the Libyan people and stand aside."  There is "some confusion" about where Gaddafi might be, Baroness Ashton continued. In terms of where Gaddafi ends up, she suggested the international criminal court is best-placed to determine that - this is a key area as some say it should be up to the Libyan people. Ashton said the the 27-nation bloc is preparing to unfreeze Libyan assets quickly once the United Nations gives its approval. Ashton said that Libya's transitional administration will need funds to make sure public sector workers are paid, stores have sufficient supplies and the economy can be developed again. She added that Libyan rebels currently control about 80 per cent of Tripoli. She continued by saying that EU nations were also looking to provide aid, medical supplies and fuel needed in the capital. She said that she will travel to New York Friday to discuss the strategy on Libya with officials from the Arab League, the African Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation under the auspices of the UN, reported AP.
Sky's Robert Nisbet said Nato has pledged to stay involved once Gaddafi has gone but according to three principles: it will be a supporting role; there will be no Nato boots on the ground; any military involvement will be on request only.

Gaddafi has reportedly spoken to the Russian head of world chess Kirsan Ilyumzhinov by phone at around 6 p.m. Moscow time (1400 GMT, 10 a.m. EDT) on Tuesday declaring that he is in Tripoli and did not intend to leave the country despite an onslaught by rebels, and that he "will fight to the end." "I am alive and healthy, I am in Tripoli and do not intend to leave Libya. Do not believe the lying reports by Western television companies," Kirsan Ilyumzhinov quoted Gaddafi as saying in the conversation, the Interfax news agency reported. Ilyumzhinov has known Gadhafi for years. His visit to Tripoli in July was among the last times the Libyan leader was seen in public.

Meanwhile, rebel forces are even closer to Gaddafi's compound now as Sky's Alex Crawford reported that that they are 50m from Gaddafi's Bab Al-Aziziya compound. Al Jazeera's James Bays reported from the area surrounding Babal Aziziya where audible gunfire and blasts could be heard in the background, saying that:
"The opposition may have more control of more parts of the city than the Gaddafi forces, but the reality is that there really is no control [in the capital city]." Journalists at the Rixos hotel have reported that they are hunkered down in the basement, few phones are working, the kitchen staff have fled - they are there with Gaddafi security staff, who say they are there for the journalists' protection but also carry guns.

In other news, the Maltese government has officially recognised the National Transitional Council as the legitimate government of the Libyan people, Lawrence Gonzi, Malta's prime minister, announced on Tuesday. "Malta will continue to play its role as a centre for humanitarian aid to go to Libya and is committed towards assisting the international community in evacuating expats from the troubled areas," Gonzi said after a cabinet meeting. He also expressed hope that a "quick and peaceful solution" is found to the ongoing trouble in the North African country."

Gonzi, who cut short a private holiday in Prague by a week to attend a cabinet meeting to discuss the situation in Libya, said the Maltese government was closely collaborating with the European Union on the situation. He said there was a high probability that a number of expats would be evacuated from Tripoli in the coming days.

The decision came a day after Gonzi called council leader Mahmoud Jibril expressing Malta's full support for Libyan opposition fighters.
Gonzi said the Maltese government was renewing its appeal for Muammar Gaddafi to step down and stop the bloodshed. He said that a ship chartered by the Maltese government to evacuate workers and give humanitarian aid was still unable to berth in Tripoli because of security concerns.
Discussions are under way with the EU on the possibility of a larger ship to be chartered to evacuate people from Tripoli, he added, reporter AFP.

Following suit is Morocco, who has said it recognises the rebel's Libyan national transitional council as well. Shortly after, Reuters reported  that Iraq formally recognised Libya's opposition group, the National Transitional Council, as Libya's representative, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. "The cabinet decided today, 23 August 2011, to recognise the Libyan National Transitional Council as the only and legitimate representative of the Libyan people," a statement on the Foreign Ministry's website said.

Meanwhile, Norway has recognised Libya's opposition-run governing council as the country's legitimate government, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. "Norway now considers the National Transitional Council as Libya's legitimate authority," Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said in a statement. Norway, which took part in the NATO-led mission over Libya with six F-16 fighter jets until the end of July, had until now refused to "recognise" the NTC, insisting it only recognised states, not their governments. "We have to turn to the future. As soon as the situation in Libya allows it, it will be important to put in place a broad and inclusive transition government that can run the country during the transition phase to come," Stoere said.

Nigeria on Tuesday called on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to quit power and recognised the opposition's National Transitional Council as the "legitimate representative of the Libyan people". "In the last 48 hours, the situation in the country has moved inexorably closer to its denouement," junior foreign minister Viola Onwuliri told reporters. "The federal government is understandably anxious to prevent further loss of lives in Libya and therefore urges Muammar Gaddafi to take the path of honour and relinquish power immediately and allow the people of Libya to decide the future of their country." She added that "the federal government has formally recognised the Transitional National Council of Libya as a legitimate representative of the Libyan people".

Greece on Tuesday called on the embattled regime of Muammar Gaddafi to concede defeat as it recognised the opposition-led National Transitional Council as the legitimate government of Libya. "Greece recognises the National Transitional Council as the legal entity that will lead the Libyan people to the critical new phase of a transitional process to benefit Libya, peace and stability in the region," Foreign Minister Stavros Lambrinidis said in a statement. "Libya cannot take any more violence. The remnants of the regime must, even at the final hour, realise that they are part of the past," he added.
Lambrinidis warned the rebels against revenge attacks. "The heroic struggle of the Libyan people, the birth of new Libya, must not bear the stigma of reprisals," he said. Greece is traditionally close to the Arab world and its government had kept channels of communication open to both sides during the six-month conflict.
Gaddafi envoys have held talks in Athens as recently as two weeks ago, while at the same time Greece sent aid and medical experts to the rebels in Benghazi and opened its military bases to its NATO allies for operations against the Libyan leader's forces.
It also supported efforts to secure a ceasefire and helped to evacuate thousands of civilians and foreign workers from Libya through Greek ports, an effort which Lambrinidis on Tuesday pledged to continue. The father of Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, Andreas, had personally fostered ties with Gaddafi some 30 years ago when the Libyan strongman was still ostracised in the West.

In other news, Reuters reported that Germany is working with its partners in the UN Security Council to remove a freeze on Libyan assets imposed as part of sanctions on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's government, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said on Tuesday. Westerwelle told reporters that Germany, with the international community, did not want to see Libya descend into chaos. To that end, it was a priority to help with reconstruction and support the National Transitional Council.
"We are working with the UN Security Council in New York to create the conditions to unfreeze the money to help the Libyan people," he told reporters, adding a new Security Council resolution was needed to make that possible.
Germany, which abstained on the UN vote in March authorising the use of military action to enforce a no-fly-zone over Libya and protect civilians, is keen to take a leading role in reconstruction efforts. Westerwelle, who said he was in close touch with the rebel leadership, also said Germany had signed a credit agreement to enable the Libyan people and the council to gain access to up to 100 million euros in the coming days.

In related news, Brazil has received information that its companies' contracts would be respected by a new government in Libya, Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota told Reuters on Tuesday. "I don't think this will happen," Patriota said when asked if he was concerned that a government formed by rebel forces in Libya would seek to punish Brazil economically over its failure to back their rebellion. "Because we have received information that contracts will be respected even if there is a change (in government)."

Al Jazeera's correspondent in Libya reported that "Rebels entered the first gate into Bab Al-Aziziyah camp. Gaddafi's forces have pulled back to Sirte and Al Jafra in the south". NATO said that they don't have a clue where Gadhafi is, but not sure it really matters. They added that Pro-Gadhafi forces are severely degraded, losing strength through desertions and defections. Additionally, they said that they will continue Libya operations and will bomb Gadhafi forces if they keep fighting as the situation in Tripoli is still 'very serious and very dangerous.'

NATO spokesperson, Oana Lungescu, said: "it is the final chapter, the end is near and events are moving fast what is clear is Gaddafi is history. The Libyan people should be spared."  "Mission to protect civilians remains necessary, we cannot drop our guard and we won't. This afternoon, ambassadors will meet at NATO headquarters to discuss the way forward and look at options for a possible nato role," she said during a press conference in Naples.Libyan rebels have seized control of Ageila in eastern Libya and are headed towars the strategic oil port of Ras Lanuf, according to reports from Reuters. Additionally, the Ministry of Defence confirms RAF jets are continuing to fly reconnaissance missions over Libya. Sky reported that smoke is rising from Tripoli after Nato airstrikes on Colonel Gaddafi's compound. Smoke seen rising from Libyan leader's fortress as loyalists and rebels battle for control of Tripoli's streets: Sky's Alex Crawford in central Tripoli said that rebels claiming anti aircraft guns and rockets were being used against them. While Sky's Ian Woods in west Tripoli said that gunfire has been constant for last couple of hours. Rebels seem to have taken control of one of Colonel Gaddafi's armouries. Rebel fighters continue to flood into the city. Crawford added that in central Tripoli the main problem for civilians seems to be sniper fire. Rocket propelled grenades are also now hitting homes and families do not know where to shelter. As Libya’s armed conflict continues, with fierce fighting in the capital's streets, the The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has started distributing medical and surgical kits to some of Tripoli’s main hospitals. Meanwhile, The German foreign minister has called for a quick UN resolution to unblock frozen Libyan assets.

Al Jazeera correspondent in Libya says "rebels are 500 metres only from Bab Al-Aziziyah." Explosions have been heard near the Bab Al-Aziziyah compound where Colonel Gadddafi is thought to be hiding, reports Arabiya tv. It is not clear if the explosions in Tripoli are from Gaddafi regime rocket launchers or Nato airstrikes. The al-Mansoura district was also the focus of fierce clashes between government forces and opposition fighters on Tuesday, two days after the rebels marched into the heart of the city, prompting scenes of jubiliation. But Gaddafi's forces are reportedly fighting back using heavy weapons including mortars, casting doubts on opposition claims that much of the city was under their control. Al Jazeera's James Bays said he could see smoke rising into the sky from the vicinity of Gaddafi's compound. The Libyan leader's whereabouts is unknown.

According to Former Croatian President Stipe Mesic who has close ties Colonel Gaddafi said that the Libyan leader told him he was ready to step down if Nato ended its airstrikes, AFP says. It has however been reported that many casualties are arriving at hospital in central Tripoli following intense fighting.
Sky's Alex Crawford speaking live from central Tripoli says she saw a convoy of rebel military vehicles heading towards the compound.
Al Jazeera’s Jacky Rowland, reporting live from the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, said: "Now we are seeing accusations, doubts, and confusions.
"One rebel fighter told Al Jazeera that he suspected that maybe Saif al-Islam had bribed his way out and he accused the NTC of cutting some sort of a deal. He asked: 'Where is the NTC? Why are they not in Tripoli? We are doing all the hard work, they are back in Benghazi sunbathing or something'.
The correspondent says: "We are starting to see now the resentment. I think this is going to put the pressure on the NTC that if wants to be part of a new Libya it going to have to get over to Tripoli pretty quickly. Because if it turns up later, the people on the ground will feel they own this revolution and will likely say 'who are you, we’ve done all the hard work go away'. This is a crucial time for the NTC. "It is going to be interesting to see how the NTC explains this debacle and how it seeks to reinforce and strengthen these alliances and able the rebels to get to Tripoli itself," she said.
International Criminal Court said it has never received official confirmation from the Libyan Rebel Council that Saif Al-Islam had been captured. Saif's arrest had been reported by the rebels but he appeared before foreign media in Tripoli early on Tuesday, raising questions as to the rebels' credibility. "There was no official confirmation from the National Transitional Council," Fadi el-Abdallah, an ICC official, said. "Different answers were given. That was a little ambiguous."
He added that statements from both the ICC and the prosecutor on Monday said they had received information about the arrest but that they were trying to confirm this. The office of the prosecutor, which told the Reuters news agency early on Monday it had confirmation from sources that Saif had been arrested, has not yet responded to requests for comment. Meanwhile, British Deputy PM Nick Clegg said that Saif Gaddafi's appearance last night does not signal a shift in the Libya campaign and that it is only a matter of time before Colonel Gaddafi's regime is defeated.
Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that frozen Libyan assets should be released soon. He also said that NATO security measures are to continue until full security is established. In other news, Taner Yildiz, the Turkish energy minister, said Turkey wants state-owned oil and gas exploration company Turkiye Petrolleri (TPAO) to resume oil exploration and production work in Libya if security is established. TPAO has interests in six Libyan oil wells, Yildiz said on Tuesday.
It has been reported by Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr, on the outskirts of Tripoli, that there are "Heavy clashes in Mansoura ... Bab al-Aziziya between government forces and opposition fighters ... Gaddafi men using mortars and heavy weapons."
Libyan rebels clashed with an army convoy coming from the city of Sirte, killing tens of Gaddafi's troops, Al Arabiya TV are reporting. Sky's Alex Crawford speaking live from central Tripoli said "Very fierce fighting around the hospital with Nato jets flying above. Atmosphere totally changed now."
The world is still reacting to what is happening in Libya, and those are some of the reactions of world governments.
Iran's official news agency has shown its support for the rebels, releasing a statement saying: "The Islamic Republic of Iran congratulates the Muslim people of Libya...the popular uprising in Libya once again showed that submitting to the legitimate demands of the people and respecting their opinions is an undeniable necessity".
International development secretary Andrew Mitchell MP speaking on Sky News says they are seeking safe passage to the wounded at the hospital featured by Alex Crawford of Sky News in Tripoli and providing medical supplies and staff where possible. The rebels are in control of a large part of Tripoli - but not all.
China's deputy head of commerce has urged Libya to protect its investments and said their oil trade benefited both countries, afte a Libyan rebel warned that Chinese oil companies could lose out after the ousting of Colonel Gaddafi.
The deputy head of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce's trade department, Wen Zhongliang, was responding to a question about the official at the Libyan rebel-run oil firm, AGOCO, who said Russian and Chinese firms could lose out on oil contracts for failing to back the rebellion against Gaddafi. "China's investment in Libya, especially its oil investment, is one aspect of mutual economic co-operation between China and Libya, and this co-operation is in the mutual interest of both the people of China and Libya," the commerce official Wen told a news conference on Tuesday.
"We hope that after a return to stability in Libya, Libya will continue to protect the interests and rights of Chinese investors and we hope to continue investment and economic co-operation with Libya," Wen said. If acted upon, the warning from Abdeljalil Mayouf, an information manager at AGOCO, would be a headache for China, the world's second-biggest oil consumer, which last year obtained 3 per cent of its imported crude from Libya.
But his warning may not represent the position of an emerging, post-Gaddafi government in Tripoli. Beijing has courted Libyan rebels, and there is sure to be a cacophony of voices among opposition groups, Yin Gang, an expert on the Arab world at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, told the Reuters news agency. "This was one individual's opinion. I can say in four words: They would not dare; they would not dare change any contracts," said Yin. He said Chinese companies have relatively few investments in Libya, where Western companies were favoured even under Gaddafi in recent years.
"Libya is still in a state of chaos and hasn't formed a government. There are certainly different views among the rebels," he added. The rebel official's warning nonetheless showed the tricky political terrain facing China in Arab countries emerging from popular insurrections, said Ben Simpfendorfer, managing director of Silk Road Associates, a Hong Kong-based consultancy that specialises in business between China and the Middle East.
"China was unusually quick to support the NTC," said Simpfendorfer, referring to the National Transitional Council, the main rebel group at war with Gaddafi. "Relative to China's typical foreign policy response, that was quite important, but relative to what Europe and the United States did, that falls short. So I think they will struggle."
China shipped in roughly 150,000 barrels per day of crude oil from Libya last year. Moreover, the flag of the Libyan transitional government is raised at the Libyan Embassy in Beijing, China.
Italy's foreign minister Franco Frattini says he expects contracts held by Italian companies in Libya will be respected in a post-Gaddafi area. Italy's interests in its former colony stretch from oilfields to multibillion-euro contracts in defence and construction sectors.
"They've agreed to honour all contracts, including those with Italian companies, undertaken by Libya," Frattini told Italian radio, referring to the Benghazi-based rebel council. "Italy's contracts are with Libya, not with Gaddafi." Once Gaddafi's closest European ally, Rome has been aggressively courting the rebels since backing them in April. Frattini said he had already agreed with the rebel council on broad cooperation between the two sides.
Iran on Tuesday congratulated the Libyan people after rebels overran the capital Tripoli, saying the rebellion there  indicated the necessity of submitting to the "legitimate demands of the people." "The Islamic Republic of Iran congratulates the Muslim people of Libya whose firm stand in recent months portrayed another symbol of popular movements in the region," a foreign ministry statement carried by the official IRNA news agency said.
"The popular uprising in Libya once again showed that submitting to the legitimate demands of the people and respecting their opinions is an undeniable necessity," the statement said. "As always, the Islamic Republic of Iran is prepared to share its experiences on the path to realising freedom, justice, ... and development ...  with the brother nation of Libya."
Since the Libyan uprising erupted in mid-February, Iran has adopted a dual approach - criticising the Gaddafi regime for its violent assaults on the  rebels while at the same time condemning NATO's military intervention.
Israel wishes Libya's rebel forces a swift victory over the regime of Gaddafi after they overran Tripoli, spelling the imminent demise of the veteran strongman, an official said on Tuesday. "Israel wants a victory for the rebels and hopes they can set up an effective and democratic state," the government official told the AFP news agency, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Gaddafi was a clown who was sometimes ridiculous but dangerous because he was involved in terrorism, which unfortunately did not deter some Western  leaders from heaping undeserved honours on his travelling circus," he said.
Victory over Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime is "not complete" French officials warned on Tuesday, as Paris' joy over the rebel forces' entry into Tripoli gave way to renewed caution. "I said yesterday that victory was not complete," insisted Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, who on Monday had written - in a blog post entitled "End of a dictatorship" - "The goal is being achieved." Defence Minister Gerard Longuet, who on Monday had declared: "The regime has fallen, the turnaround is total", said on France Inter radio: "In Libya the situation is not totally at an end, far from it."
Both officials confirmed that there were still pockets of resistance by pro-Gaddafi fighters and that combat was continuing, holding out the  possibility of more NATO air strikes to help the rebels. Juppe told Europe 1 radio that officials from France, Britain, Turkey,  Germany, the United States and several Arab countries had held a conference call on Monday to discuss their ongoing military mission. Juppe declared that Nato's involvement in Libya must end "as soon as possible", according to AP. Mr Juppe said Britain and France were responsible for 75-80% of Nato's air operations.
South Korea said it was considering sending money to Libyan rebels, while Seoul shares in construction firms soared amid growing hopes for resumption of their projects in Libya. "Our government has provided humanitarian aid to the rebels through international organisations, and we are  considering providing a certain amount of money from the humanitarian aspect on the bilateral basis," Shin Maeng-ho, the foreign ministry spokesman, told a news briefing on Tuesday.
Seoul's Yonhap News agency reported South Korea planned to provide up to one million U.S. dollars in cash for humanitarian purposes to the rebels.
The agency added world powers had offered funds along with other aid to the rebel Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) as the rebels seized control of most of the Libyan capital, signaling that the battle to end Gaddafi's rule may be coming to a close.
Seoul shares in construction firms rose amid growing hopes the civil war in Libya may be drawing to a close and rebuilding projects in the country could resume. Hyundai Engineering & Construction gained 8.82 per cent and Daewoo Engineering & Construction surged 8.58 per cent when Tuesday's stock market closed.
The turmoil in Libya disrupted South Korean firms' construction projects and led them to evacuate thousands of workers. Seoul analysts said the post-Gaddafi regime would need to build new roads and houses, which could boost infrastructure demand for Korean firms.
The Gulf Arab state of Bahrain has recognised the rebel National Transitional Council as the sole representative of the people of Libya, Bahrain's state news agency said. Given "recent developments in Libya", the Kingdom of Bahrain said on Tuesday the council was "the sole legitimate representative of the brotherly Libyan people, wishes Libya to achieve prosperity, progress and stability, development and reconstruction."

Oman has recognised Libya's rebel-led council as the country's legitimate international representatives. Oman is the latest Arab nation to break off relations with Muammar Gaddafi's regime in favor of the National Transitional Council. The statement on Tuesday by Oman's Foreign Ministry also urged Libyan rebels to keep the country from drifting into lawlessness as opposition forces move against Gaddafi's last strongholds in the capital Tripoli.
An international organisation for migration ship has now arrived and is off shore waiting to be able to evacuate up to 300 migrant workers trapped in Tripoli. The ship however has been delayed due to the poor security situation,  the International Organisation for Migration said on Tuesday. "Poor security conditions at the port in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, will delay the docking of an IOM-chartered boat" which had been due to arrive later Tuesday, the IOM said.
In other news, Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr, on the outskirts of Tripoli said that there are: "Heavy clashes in Mansoura ... Bab al-Aziziya between government forces and opposition fighters ... Gaddafi men using mortars and heavy weapons." Libyan rebels clashed with an army convoy coming from the city of Sirte, killing tens of Gaddafi's troops, Al Arabiya TV are reporting.