Benghazi

Residents of the eastern Libyan city that served as the cradle of the uprising that toppled Moammar Gadhafi voted for a local council Saturday in the city's first elections since the longtime dictator's capture and killing last year. More than 400 people were running for the 41 seats up for grabs on the local council of Benghazi, Libya's second-largest city. The vote for the city council was the first in Benghazi since the 1960s, and some of the voting centers Saturday were so crowded that they stayed open an extra hour to meet the rush of voters.

Residents of the eastern Libyan city that served as the cradle of the uprising that toppled Moammar Gadhafi voted for a local council Saturday in the city's first elections since the longtime dictator's capture and killing last year. More than 400 people were running for the 41 seats up for grabs on the local council of Benghazi, Libya's second-largest city. The vote for the city council was the first in Benghazi since the 1960s, and some of the voting centers Saturday were so crowded that they stayed open an extra hour to meet the rush of voters.

BENGHAZI, Libya - The top rebel military commander in Libya was killed yesterday, and members of his tribe greeted the announcement with gunfire and angry threats. The violent outburst stirred fears that a tribal feud could divide the forces struggling to topple the Libyan dictator, Moammar Khadafy. The leader of the rebels' provisional government, Mustapha Abdul Jalil, announced yesterday evening that assassins killed the commander, General Abdul Fattah Younes, and two other officers.

Libya's state news agency says three explosions outside a courthouse in the eastern city of Benghazi have wounded three people and caused some damage to the building's fence and surrounding structures. LANA says three devices went off early Friday. It wasn't clear who was behind the attack. Security official Aghdour bin Zablah says the explosives were thrown out of a passing car. The attack came hours after a failed prison break in Benghazi during which prisoners and guards exchanged gunfire.

Libya's state news agency says three explosions outside a courthouse in the eastern city of Benghazi have wounded three people and caused some damage to the building's fence and surrounding structures. LANA says three devices went off early Friday. It wasn't clear who was behind the attack. Security official Aghdour bin Zablah says the explosives were thrown out of a passing car. The attack came hours after a failed prison break in Benghazi during which prisoners and guards exchanged gunfire.

NEW YORK - Libya's postwar transitional government faced a political crisis yesterday after protesters ransacked its offices in Benghazi, highlighting growing nationwide unease with its leadership and triggering a shakeup in which the government's deputy chief resigned and several members were suspended. For months, youth groups with a range of complaints have been protesting the National Transitional Council in Benghazi, the eastern city whose protests sparked the nine-month revolt and which once served as the rebel capital.

BENGHAZI , Libya — A Libyan woman who said she was gang-raped by Moammar Khadafy’s troops was deported from Qatar, where she sought refuge, and is now in Benghazi, a UN official said yesterday. Her sudden expulsion cast light again on one of the most widely covered incidents of alleged abuses by Khadafy’s forces, as NATO continued its relentless nightly bombing raids on Libyan military and bases, backing rebels who are trying to unseat Khadafy after a four-decade dictatorship.

BENGHAZI, Libya - Turkey’s foreign minister recognized Libya’s rebel leaders as the country’s legitimate representatives and promised them an additional $200 million in aid during a visit yesterday. The visit by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu signaled a further policy shift for Ankara, Turkey. The nation, a key regional power, had initially balked at the idea of military action in Libya, but as a NATO member is now supporting the alliance’s air strikes there. Turkish companies were involved in construction projects worth billions of dollars in Libya before the outbreak of...

BENGHAZI, Libya - Libya's de facto leader said yesterday that he is optimistic that the former rebels will declare total victory over forces loyal to Moammar Khadafy in less than a week, opening the way for a new transitional government. Despite heavy resistance, revolutionary forces are closing in on Khadafy's forces in the ousted dictator's hometown of Surt, the most important of two major cities yet to be cleared of Khadafy's armed supporters. "I hope that liberation will be declared in less than a week, after we free Surt," said Mustafa Abdul-Jalil.

NIGERIA KANO - A coordinated attack by a radical Islamist sect in north Nigeria's largest city killed at least 143 people, a hospital official said yesterday. Soldiers and police swarmed Kano's streets as Nigeria's president again promised that Boko Haram will "face the full wrath of the law. " SOUTH AFRICA Madagascar exile kept from return JOHANNESBURG - Madagascar's toppled president, Marc Ravalomanana, tried to end his exile in South Africa yesterday, but his plane was forced to turn back by the populist former disc jockey, Andry Rajoelina, who toppled him....

BENGHAZI, Libya — In a symbolic gesture of defiance, militia and tribal chiefs from eastern Libya gathered here Tuesday to demand a return to the loose federation that prevailed before Moammar Khadafy took power four decades ago. Challenging the country's transitional leaders in the nation's capital, Tripoli, the 3,000 people assembled in an old soap factory here also announced unilateral plans to begin establishing an autonomous government....

BENGHAZI, Libya - Moammar Khadafy loyalists seized control of a Libyan mountain city in the most serious challenge to the central government since the strongman's fall, underlining the increasing weakness of Libya's Western-backed rulers as they try to unify the country under their authority. The taking of Bani Walid, one of the last Khadafy strongholds captured by the new leadership late last year, was the first such organized operation by armed remnants of Khadafy's regime. A simultaneous outbreak of shootings in the capital and Libya's second largest city Benghazi...

NEW YORK - Libya's postwar transitional government faced a political crisis yesterday after protesters ransacked its offices in Benghazi, highlighting growing nationwide unease with its leadership and triggering a shakeup in which the government's deputy chief resigned and several members were suspended. For months, youth groups with a range of complaints have been protesting the National Transitional Council in Benghazi, the eastern city whose protests sparked the nine-month revolt and which once served as the rebel capital.

NIGERIA KANO - A coordinated attack by a radical Islamist sect in north Nigeria's largest city killed at least 143 people, a hospital official said yesterday. Soldiers and police swarmed Kano's streets as Nigeria's president again promised that Boko Haram will "face the full wrath of the law. " SOUTH AFRICA Madagascar exile kept from return JOHANNESBURG - Madagascar's toppled president, Marc Ravalomanana, tried to end his exile in South Africa yesterday, but his plane was forced to turn back by the populist former disc jockey, Andry Rajoelina, who toppled him....

TRIPOLI, Libya - Like many Libyan women, Siham el-Zentani was consumed by family responsibilities, staying at home to care for her four teenage children. But when she saw the TV images of Libyan refugees fleeing Moammar Khadafy's troops this year, she announced to her husband that she had a new mission. "I want to go," she said. Within weeks, the 54-year-old Benghazi resident recalled, she was hiking into the western mountains with two female friends, their backpacks stuffed with cash they had collected to help displaced Libyans and anti-Khadafy rebels.

BENGHAZI, Libya - Libya's de facto leader said yesterday that he is optimistic that the former rebels will declare total victory over forces loyal to Moammar Khadafy in less than a week, opening the way for a new transitional government. Despite heavy resistance, revolutionary forces are closing in on Khadafy's forces in the ousted dictator's hometown of Surt, the most important of two major cities yet to be cleared of Khadafy's armed supporters. "I hope that liberation will be declared in less than a week, after we free Surt," said Mustafa...

British company Heritage Oil PLC said Tuesday that it has acquired a controlling interest in a Libyan company licensed to provide oil field services including offshore and land-based drilling. Heritage said it paid $19.5 million for a 51 percent stake in Sahara Oil Services Holdings Ltd. Heritage said the acquisition will allow it to play a significant role in Libya's oil and gas industry. Sahara Oil Services was established in 2009 and is based in Benghazi. Heritage established a base in Benghazi this year and has been dealing with senior members of the National...

BENGHAZI, Libya - Moammar Khadafy loyalists seized control of a Libyan mountain city in the most serious challenge to the central government since the strongman's fall, underlining the increasing weakness of Libya's Western-backed rulers as they try to unify the country under their authority. The taking of Bani Walid, one of the last Khadafy strongholds captured by the new leadership late last year, was the first such organized operation by armed remnants of Khadafy's regime. A simultaneous outbreak of shootings in the capital and Libya's second largest city Benghazi raised...

British company Heritage Oil PLC said Tuesday that it has acquired a controlling interest in a Libyan company licensed to provide oil field services including offshore and land-based drilling. Heritage said it paid $19.5 million for a 51 percent stake in Sahara Oil Services Holdings Ltd. Heritage said the acquisition will allow it to play a significant role in Libya's oil and gas industry. Sahara Oil Services was established in 2009 and is based in Benghazi. Heritage established a base in Benghazi this year and has been dealing with senior members of the National...