Gaddafi recruits 800 Tuareg mercenaries
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has recruited some 800 Tuareg separatist fighters from Niger, Mali, Algeria and Burkina Faso to quash a popular uprising against his regime, security sources said today.
"Eight hundred Tuareg originating from Mali, Algeria and Burkina Faso have been recruited by Libya to fight on Gaddafi's side," a Malian security source told AFP.
"We have the same information," said a Niger security source, adding that among the 800, only a "small handful are from Algeria and Burkina Faso."
"The troops are mainly made up of Malian and Niger Tuareg," she said.
In Mali, a small, discreet recruitment office has been set up in a Bamako hotel belonging to Libya where a Libyan diplomat acts as a recruiting agent, an AFP journalist witnessed.
But security sources said recruitment was also taking place in parts of the Sahel.
"Those who are leaving now are tempted by the easy earnings. It is they who we call mercenaries," said Abdou Salam Ag Assalat, president of the Kidal Regional Assembly in north-eastern Mali.
"Among these youths there are former Malian and Niger Tuareg rebels who took up arms in Mali in 2006 and 2008," he added.
The Tuareg community is composed of some 1.5 million people spread across Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali and Niger. Tuareg rebels have fought the authorities in Mali and Niger sporadically since the 1990s.
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Joseph Ellul - Sydney
Mar 4th 2011, 04:52
The Tuareg is a name given to a very hostile tribe that knows no pity. The desert conditions these people to the fact that survival is of most importance and they will fight for whoever offers a good deal, or a lot of money.
Gaddafi is a very crafty person and will use these kind of people and even fighters from the Chavese regime if required.
Egypt will have to interefere and send in its Air Force to shut down the human carnage. Unless steps are taken by Libya's friends and neighbours to help the population, then it will be vengeance Arab style later on.
May the EU support Egypt with this task as no other muslim friend of the Libyans is willing to put their hands up.
It is time for Gaddafi to go.
If he wants to go with honor then let him surrender to Egyptian military.
If not, then he will have to commit the ultimate sacrifice.
May freedom, the wish of all people, be bestowed to the humble and good people of Libya.
charles vella
Mar 3rd 2011, 16:33
This Diabolical tyrant has NO respect to humanity especially the Libyan people... he has NO reason to live, taking the lives of so much! GADDAFI MUST GO!! But he will not, because he loves power, he is evil and he wants to stay in power, however little does he know that his days are over! Also... he recruited people to replace those who defected him! SHAME SHAME... i wonder if he knows what the word SHAME means!! ISTHI JEKK TAF GADDAFI!
E.Schembri
Mar 3rd 2011, 15:29
This calls for international intervention, otherwise a bloodbath will pursue.
r ferriggi
Mar 3rd 2011, 15:12
so much for african unity.
helping each other in bloodshed.
i hope that ''the colonialists'' are not blamed this time,,,, as has become the habit when things go wrong.
'' colonialism is to blame''................
michael scxicluna
Mar 3rd 2011, 14:56
one can never be in favour of foreign military intervention even more when it's in our own back yard. but in light of the above it's unavoidable. so PLEASE americans, english and whoevber wants to.........just sweep him out so peace can be re established.
the issue has nothing to do with iraq coz pro gaddafi fighters are only driven by money not loyalty. capture or weakening of gaddafi's regime would end this issue once and for ever!
S.cachia
Mar 3rd 2011, 14:37
This is what his son Saif said on Sky news during an interview... Give me one evidence of attacks on civilians by the regime..... is this clear evidence Saif?? Do you think that we believed you....?
Edward Caruana Galizia
Mar 5th 2011, 12:54
Saif's words showed how cut off he is from his people. He blindly believes that the people need him and his father. He cannot imagine anyone disliking his family. And yet he is more liberal and has more liberal ideas, which he spoke about in one interview.
But he will never say Gaddafi should stand down. Or, more to the point, he will never turn his own father in.
M Sammut
Mar 3rd 2011, 14:19
I wonder why someone who claims that he holds no power to be removed from, finds it neccessary to recruit mercenaries to 'quash an uprising against his regime'!!!!The mind boggles!
l fenech
Mar 3rd 2011, 14:10
U dan jghid li il-poplu libjan kollu ihobbu.
Saviour Sam Agius
Mar 3rd 2011, 14:02
Doesn't he consider this "foreign intervention"? This man's full of inconsistencies. I wonder what his reasoning would be, perhaps he's still dreaming of Africa as one country under his supreme guidance.
joe formosa
Mar 3rd 2011, 13:54
Definetely, those who are organizing these terrors against humanity are not just mentally obsessed but definetely possessed by some evil spirits that speak hatred and revenge through their words and deeds. This is not anymore a question of war but it is evidently that this is the devil's work to degrade humanity and as part of his strategy against God - the almighty.
At the end of the day, EVERYONE is to face God and has to be judged on his actions towards his fellow human beings. Those who caused terror and suffering on other people will definetely face an eternal HELL forever. It is better to be poor and save your soul then to be rich or in power but risk to go in hell forever.
T
VCassar
Mar 5th 2011, 09:00
Joe Formosa, it looks like you've taken over God's job! Well done.
Wally Bartolo
Mar 3rd 2011, 13:41
The man(?-if one can call him a man) is desperate to cling to power,. but we know- that they know- and that he knows that his day are numbered....
Adrian Cachia
Mar 3rd 2011, 14:07
His attitude instigates hatred & violence!
Joseph Cachia
Mar 3rd 2011, 14:17
Wally you may live a long life with hope, then die with wish