Maltese evacuation boat comes under fire in Tripoli port

A number of Maltese nationals were stranded at the port of Tripoli after heavy gunfire yesterday morning prevented a ship from evacuating them and tens of others from different countries as the battle for the North African capital began.

About 15 Maltese who remained in Tripoli during the six-month conflict were expecting to board the Maltese-registered cargo ship Triva I, chartered by the government in the past weeks when it became clear that rebels were advancing on the capital. The ship can carry about 60 passengers.

Four Maltese nationals arrived yesterday via Tripoli airport after tense days in which they were prevented to leave.

A number of Polish, British and Lebanese nationals were also planning to board the boat at about 9 a.m. but the evacuation had to be aborted because of the heavy fire. Among those stranded was a Polish woman in an advanced state of pregnancy and her three children. There were also up to nine British nationals.

Although the operation was meant to be kept under wraps, the news was leaked by the Polish Foreign Ministry, leading to unwanted attention.

“The vessels is not a passenger ship and the conditions could be rough,” the ministry warned, urging Polish passengers to prepare food and water for a 24-hour journey. But things turned rough even before the boat could take on any passengers as heavy gunfire broke out around the port between rebels and forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi.

In view of the gunfire, Triva I returned to the open sea until it could return safely to port.

The Labour Party and Alter­nattiva Demokratika strongly condemned the attack on the humanitarian mission and the International Organisation for Migration ap­pealed for help to evacuate the migrants.

Meanwhile, the Gaddafi government remained defiant as rebels celebrated victories and moved towards the capital with alacrity. Making headlines instantly, a presenter on Libyan state TV brandished a revolver and called people to arms, saying she would either kill or be killed but would not abandon the station without a fight.

Col Gaddafi’s spokesman, Moussa Ibrahim, warned of a “bloodbath” in the absence of an immediate ceasefire and said he held the West morally responsible for every unnecessary death.

He also accused the rebels of committing war crimes, including rape.

One of the towns he mentioned, Janzour, is where the Corinthia Group’s Palm City residential development is situated.

Maltese people in Tripoli reported that gunfire was heard around the city on Saturday night but things were quieter yesterday afternoon. About 20 Maltese nationals are said to be in the capital, a few of whom still do not have plans to evacuate.

Among pro-rebel Libyans there is a sense of optimism that the conflict will come to an end in the next few days before Col Gaddafi is able to celebrate the 42nd anniversary of his revolution on September 1.

However, the extent of Col Gaddafi’s support in the capital is still unclear. Some Libyans fear a guerilla war inside Tripoli, similar to what happened in Zlitan and Tawurgha, where government forces used civilians as human shields, prolonging the conflict.

Abdalla Kablan, a member of the Libyan Solidarity Movement who lives in Malta, hopes government forces will surrender once the “freedom fighters” gain more ground. “The likelihood is that many will surrender at once if they learn that Gaddafi has fled the country or was killed,” he added.

“The majority of the Libyans have never been more united in 42 years and the sense of nationality and love for the country, which was lost for ages under Gaddafi’s rule, is now at a peak,” he said, hoping that locals join the “liberation army” to be able to take over the city within days.

His sentiment was shared by a young man from the Libyan Youth Movement who goes only by the name of Mohamed for fear of reprisals and who has been in close contact with his family in Tripoli over the weekend.

“I do not believe a civil war will erupt. Once we liberate Tripoli, the rest of Libya will fall. The vast majority of Libya is in agreement that the new Libya will be a forgiving one and we will not attack those areas that sided with Gaddafi,” he said.

Mohamed said weapons were smuggled into Tripoli and civilians, including women, were trained and armed. He said he heard of unconfirmed reports that Nato dropped some weapons over the Tajoura and Sug il Jumaa areas.