The coastal Mediterranean city of Az-Zawiyah, to the west of Tripoli, has turned into the “worst nightmare” for residents stuck there, as forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi and Freedom Fighter forces wrestle for the northwestern Libyan city’s oil refinery.
“I can’t understand how Libyans could do the atrocities they’re committing on fellow Libyans. It is not in Gaddafi’s hands anymore. People have gone mad and they are using Gaddafi as a token excuse,” said lawyer Magda Koukab, who ran away from Libya eight years ago and is now based in Malta. She is from Az-Zawiyah and has a daughter there.
“I don’t think Gaddafi himself is telling his people to literally cut up fellow Libyans into pieces.
“How can a Libyan massacre a fellow Libyan? Why do they treat an 80-year old as they would treat a 25- year old? How could someone turn children’s laughter into tears in the name of power and money,” she asked.
“My family, including my parents and five sisters who still live in Az-Zawiyah, have given up on life. Up until three days ago, they were very hopeful. They used to sooth my fears, telling me everything will be ok now that the rebels have made it to the city. However, today they ask me to pray for them. “When I last contacted them, my father said: ‘Magda, forgive me if I have in any way hurt you in the past. Our time is over. I’m glad that all the family is huddled together because if we’re blown up at least we’ll all die together,” Dr Koukab, 35, said, her voice breaking up.
Her 11-year old daughter lives with the family in besieged Az- Zawiyah. She fears for her relatives who left the family home after apartments in the neighbourhood were torn down by bombs fired by the regime from fields in the suburbs. They moved to another house as they do not have enough fuel to travel out of the city.
Col Gaddafi’s men, she said, cleared the surrounding fields of any civilians they found and set up camp there. For the past three days or so, they have bombed the city day and night.
“They have no respect for prayer time or Ramadan. They’re killing everyone in their path, be it Gaddafi snipers and soldiers, rebels or civilians,” she said, describing Az- Zawiyah as a nightmare. Residents do not dare peer out of their houses for fear rooftop snipers would shoot them down. “The fear is so great that they can’t function properly. All they do is pray. Food is scarce, electricity sparse and fuel absent,” she added. Dr Koukab said soldiers barged into Az-Zawiyah Central Hospital, taking maternity and cardiac department patients and doctors hostage and warned that if the rebels set foot in the hospital they would kill their captives.
Residents fear that if the oil refinery, situated at the edge of the city but close to the urban area, goes up in flames, the city would turn to ashes. Az-Zawiyah is an important pawn in the Libyan civil war because the refinery provides fuel to the capital situated just 35 miles away. Rebels have been closing in on Tripoli over the past few days. Freedom Fighter forces have launched an offensive that included retaking Az-Zawiyah and Ghiryan, to the south of Tripoli.
From Misurata, about 200 kilometres east of Tripoli, the FFs widened their circle of territories, liberating Tawurgha, Zliten (west of Misurata) and reaching the outskirts of Al Heisha to further isolate Tripoli.
Abdalla Kablan, from the Libyan Solidarity Movement, said a friend of his described Tripoli as “one big prison”.
Electricity, water supply, internet and phone communication shortages and the surge in prices is frustrating for residents currently celebrating the holy month of Ramadan in boiling-point temperatures.
“We are entering a very decisive phase. I hope to be able celebrate in Tripoli by the end of Ramadan,” Dr Kablan said.
He added Tripoli was reaching a tipping point and residents would be joining the FFs in the fight against the army.
“Everybody has a feeling that this will end very soon. On the frontline, friends are saying that the morale is at a peak and they are ready to enter Tripoli as soon as possible. I personally think that it can be over in few days, maximum few weeks,” he added.
This sentiment was shared by a young man from the Libyan Youth Movement, who goes only by the name of Mohamed for fear of reprisals. He however warned that it would be suicidal and counterproductive for civilians to come out now, because Gaddafi’s opposition in the city was “too weak and disorganised to liberate Tripoli”.
“They should only come out when the time is right, which I believe is when the FFs from other cities advance further and have Tripoli clearly within their sights,” Mohamed said.
“I’d like the FFs to be cautious and not rush into moving in on Tripoli. With Tripoli there will be one of two outcomes: either a massive bloodbath if those loyal to Gaddafi decide to fight to the last bullet or else those around him would flee when the FFs get closer. I personally have a feeling that Tripoli will explode when the time is right.”
Since FF started gaining ground, Mohamed’s family in Tripoli “seems more upbeat and their morale is higher”.
“People in Tripoli are however frustrated and want it all to end now. They are being forced to open up their shops even though there is no business, just so that it appears as if life is carrying on normally in Tripoli.”