News

**•REC** · **•REC** 14877 User ID: 14877 03-15-2012 01:37 PM **Posts: 21,062**

Libya reopens its stock exchange

Libya's stock exchange has reopened for the first time since the fall of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's regime.

The exchange has 10 companies on it and trade on its first day was worth 3.9bn Libyan dinars ($3bn; £2bn), its general manager said.

Almost all of the country's publicly traded firms are banks and insurers, except for al-Ahliya Cement.

Foreign investors will be able to own up to 10% of shares, once the central bank has finalised the law.

A pro-Gaddafi brigade seized the former stock market building in June last year, and so many of the former traders and employees fled with documents and backups in their private cars.

"Before 17 February, there was no rule of law," Ahmed Karoud said, referring to the start of the uprising that overthrew Gaddafi.

There were 13 companies before his removal from power.

"This opening sends a sign to the world that Libya is now a stable country where the economy is kicking off again.

"We still don't have a government but we have the capacity and infrastructure necessary to become the financial hub of North Africa," he added.

The stock market was modelled on Abu Dhabi's, he added. Oil companies, telecoms and property firms are next in line to join.

The exchange also plans to open a second branch in Benghazi.

In December, the UN lifted sanctions on Libya's central bank and foreign investment bank, to help the country deal with a cash crisis, clearing the way for the new government to unlock billions of dollars of assets held abroad.

Col Gaddafi was killed on 20 October after being caught by rebels in his home town of Sirte.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17381885

**•REC** · **•REC** 14877 User ID: 14877 03-15-2012 01:40 PM **Posts: 21,062**

Good progress in the last couple of weeks.

The alternative for Libya would have been Gaddafi still in charge and armed forces killing civilians on a daily basis as in Syria.

**USSR** · (This post was last modified: 03-15-2012 02:16 PM by USSR.)

Now in Libya kill more than at Kaddafi..... That stock exchanges were started.... Ridiculous argument....... Many ten thousand it is killed by forces of the NATO.... The country is stopped in the government a puppet from another's country..... Before this war and transformations the country was as a blossoming fine flower. All know about the program of export of revolutions..... When the armed provokers hid in crowd of peace citizens and started to sow chaos........ The whole world of it won't forget, punishment will return to invaders.

Can it is necessary to tell news about stock exchanges to lonely Libyan people.... Which have lost houses, property, the state, the government, social privileges and the family...... Thanks to fascists of the NATO

However the world already reacts to these events.... Some countries have considerably raised expenses on arms on current year... It is time to stop this disgrace.

**•REC** · **•REC** 14877 User ID: 14877 03-17-2012 03:30 PM **Posts: 21,062**

Libya tweaks constitution in concession to regions

(AFP) – 1 day ago

Libyan authorities said on Thursday that they have amended the constitution-making process to allow for greater regional representation.

Libya is on track to elect a constituent assembly in June.

The assembly would appoint a committee of 60 experts to draft a new constitution which would be modelled on the 1951 charter, the ruling National Transitional Council said in a statement.

Committee representation would be evenly split between the regions of Tripolitana in the west, Cyrenaica in the east and Fezzan in the south, judicial committee chairman Salwa al-Deghili told AFP.

Libya was divided into three administrative regions until King Idriss al-Senussi abolished the federal system in 1963.

The decision to amend the constitutional declaration, which was adopted in August to map out governance during a transition period, reduces the influence of Tripolitana, which includes the capital of Tripoli.

The amendment aims to "diffuse the tensions" spawned by decades of harsh central government under Moamer Kadhafi which led to a feeling of marginalistion in the east and the south, Deghili added.

It comes hot at the heels of a bold bid by tribal and political leaders to carve out an autonomous territory in the oil-rich east which raised fears the country might split along regional lines.

Deghili said the allocation of seats in the 200-member constituent assembly was reconfigured, granting half of the seats to the capital (instead of 102), 60 to the east and 40 to the south.

Voting in the assembly will require a two-third majority, she added.

"This way no region will be able to pass a decision without the support of other regions," Deghili added.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/art...09cf8d.171

**•REC** · **•REC** 14877 User ID: 14877 03-17-2012 03:32 PM **Posts: 21,062**

Mauritania arrests ex-Libyan intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senoussi

Mauritania said Saturday it arrested former Libyan intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senoussi, who was one of the most prominent figures from the ousted regime of Moammar Gadhafi and is wanted by the International Criminal Court.

Al-Senoussi helped direct efforts to quash the rebellion against Gadhafi’s rule last year, and the ICC has indicted him along with Gadhafi’s son Seif al-Islam, on charges of crimes against humanity.

Mauritania’s state information agency said in a statement that al-Senoussi was arrested at the airport in the capital Nouakchott upon arrival from the Moroccan city of Casablanca. It said he was carrying a fake Malian passport.

Judges at the Netherlands-based ICC issued an arrest warrant for al-Senoussi last June on two counts of crimes against humanity — murder and persecution — for allegedly masterminding attacks on civilians in the early days of the uprising that eventually toppled Gadhafi from power.

If al-Senoussi is handed over to the Hague-based court, he would be the first suspect indicted for alleged atrocities in Libya to be taken into custody.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/midd...story.html

**•REC** · **•REC** 14877 User ID: 14877 03-17-2012 03:44 PM **Posts: 21,062**

Libya budget focuses on reconstruction

Libya's interim government on Wednesday (March 15th) approved a 2012 budget of 68.5 billion dinars (42 billion euros). The bulk of it will be allocated for salaries and subsidies, whereas the rest will go for reconstruction and development, government spokesman Nasser al-Manaa said.

About 19 billion dinars will be used to pay government wages, whereas 15 billion will go for food and fuel subsidies.

"The government seeks to achieve decentralisation," he said. "The presidential office will be launching its branch in the city of Benghazi within a few days. Another will be opened in Sabha so as to facilitate communication between the public and the government in those ministries and to limit the need to travel to the capital."

The National Transitional Council (NTC) is also preparing to transfer some companies and government offices from the capital, the spokesman added.

In another move to re-take control of the war-scarred country, the NTC took over seven prisons in different cities that can accommodate more than 23,000 inmates.

"The justice ministry hopes to integrate 6,000 rebels in the support unit of the judicial police so as to protect courts and prisons and enable the ministry to resume its work," al-Manaa said.

At the end of this month, Libya will host a training course on transitional justice in co-operation with the United Nations. About 300 international experts and judges are set to participate.

In terms of reconstruction work, he noted that 80% of the power grid restoration had been completed. Libya is now linked to an electrical connection network. The load for the city of Kufra was restored last week. Moreover, it was agreed to complete 6,500 residential units pending signing the contract, so as to proceed with the restoration of damaged and destroyed cities.

http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xht...feature-02

Pi Infinity User ID: 3.14159265 03-17-2012 04:18 PM

•REC Wrote:

Good progress in the last couple of weeks.

The alternative for Libya would have been Gaddafi still in charge and armed forces killing civilians on a daily basis as in Syria.

You're a complete and utter Dumbass

**Janie Jones**

Pi Wrote:

•REC Wrote:
Good progress in the last couple of weeks.

The alternative for Libya would have been Gaddafi still in charge and armed forces killing civilians on a daily basis as in Syria.

You're a complete and utter

Pretty serious disinfo from •REC there alright.

**•REC** · **•REC** 14877 User ID: 14877 03-20-2012 12:15 PM **Posts: 21,062**

NATO failed to investigate deaths in Libya bombings: Amnesty

NATO has been accused of failing to investigate civilian deaths caused by its aerial bombardment of Libya last year. Amnesty International believes at least 55 people died who were unconnected to the military.

The Amnesty report said that in none of the 55 documented cases of civilian deaths had relatives been contacted by NATO officials or representatives of the Libyan interim government.

The claims will be an embarrassment to the British government and others who have cited the Libyan conflict as an example of "humanitarian intervention".

Amnesty researchers visited the sites of NATO air strikes earlier this year after the fighting had finished, and interviewed survivors. The death certificates of 55 victims were obtained, including those of three strikes on two houses west of Misrata in which 34 people, including eight women and eight children, died.

Family members said they had not been aware of any activities in or near the houses which might have explained the attack. The relatively small scale of the death toll given the extent of the bombing, which involved nearly 10,000 individual raids, reflects the growing accuracy of the West's high-tech weaponry. Prior warnings were also issued by NATO.

Donatella Rovera, an Amnesty spokesperson, said: "NATO officials repeatedly stressed their commitment to protecting civilians. They cannot now brush aside the deaths of scores of civilians with some vague statement of regret without properly investigating these deadly incidents."

A NATO spokesperson said it had no mandate to carry out any operations in Libya, including inquiries, after the end of October 2011.

She claimed that a review had found that all targets involving reports of civilian casualties had been assessed and found to be "legitimate".

http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_nat...ty_1664798

**•REC** · **•REC** 14877 User ID: 14877 03-20-2012 12:16 PM **Posts: 21,062**

Libya to send 2,500 ex-rebels for police training in Jordan, Turkey

The Libyan government says it will send former rebels abroad to receive police training in an effort to rebuild the country’s battered security forces.

The transitional government says more than 2,500 former rebels will be sent to Jordan and Turkey for the first round of training. No timetable was given.

Some 10,000 Libyans will eventually train in Jordan in several stages, the government said. More than 1,300 will be sent to Turkey, in accordance with signed agreements.

The Libyan government on Monday also approved changing the color of Libyan passports from green, symbolic of Gadhafi’s rule, to dark blue.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/midd...story.html

**•REC** · **•REC** 14877 User ID: 14877 03-20-2012 12:24 PM **Posts: 21,062**

Libyan activism blooms in post-Gaddafi era

via Financial Times

Often led and bankrolled by businesspeople, they are setting up branch offices across the country, holding public forums at hotels and universities, publishing pamphlets, reaching out to local and international media and launching websites and social media platforms.

They are also trying to counter their Islamist rivals, whom they accuse of receiving money from abroad.

No exact date has been set for the elections. Under the electoral law enacted last month by the National Transitional Council, 120 of the 200 seats in parliament will be reserved for individuals running for office, with the rest dedicated to lists and parties, which must include equal numbers of male and female candidates.

Several dozen new political parties and lists are jostling for support, spanning a wide spectrum of ideological, political and regional interests. Individual candidates are also presenting themselves to the public, albeit tentatively in a country suspicious of charismatic politicians after the megalomaniacal rule of Colonel Muammer Gaddafi.

The new parliament will devise a mechanism for drawing up a new constitution as well as serve as a caretaker ahead of elections in 2013 or later.

Continued at link-
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/48b10280-620c-...z1peQurvqR

**•REC** · **•REC** 14877 User ID: 14877 03-21-2012 03:26 PM **Posts: 21,062**

Telecom services gradually restored in Libya

2012-03-20

Reconstruction is proceeding across Libya in a variety of vital sectors. Magharebia recently sat down with an official from the state telecom provider to see where things stand.

Engineer Mourad Belal, head of the media and documentation department at Libya Telecom and Technology, told Magharebia that under the old regime, the company was prevented from making necessary improvements in Libya's internet infrastructure.

"In the past, repression was gradual starting with blocking websites, to reducing speed and then completely turning off internet services in an attempt to hide facts that show the stark violation of all religious and humanitarian values and traditions," Belal said. "Service was restricted to a few people."

Belal noted that the company has completed several technical missions that have restored service to many areas, such as Misrata, Bani Walid and Sirte, which were among the cities that sustained some of the heaviest damage during the revolution.

At first, the telecom company offered service free of charge and without monthly limits. But the restoration of service has also led to an unprecedented growth in internet usage, forcing the state telecom provider to impose monthly bandwidth caps of 7 GB.

http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xht...feature-04

**•REC** · **•REC** 14877 User ID: 14877 03-21-2012 03:27 PM **Posts: 21,062**

Description:
March 19, 2012 - Hundreds of Libyan army conscripts participate in a military parade to mark the first anniversary of their triumph when rebel fighters pushed back forces loyal to the then leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlJcv3KxV6A

**•REC** · **•REC** 14877 User ID: 14877 03-24-2012 04:51 PM **Posts: 21,062**

Libya has been 'abandoned' by Europe - says country's former PM

March 24

Claims that Libya has been abandoned by western allies including those in Europe, since the collapse of Colonel Gaddafi's regime – leading to chaos and violence on the streets - have been repudiated by Catherine Ashton. Former prime minister of Libya Mahmoud Gebril made the accusations of western neglect at the Brussels Forum, hosted by the German Marshall Fund of the United States think-tank.

"Our partners forgot that when the regime in Libya fell down, the state fell down as well," Gebril told delegates. "The country is in a political and security vacuum; everybody has disappeared from the scene. To say that Libya has been abandoned is not far from the truth." Gebril warned western leaders that their failure to engage with the "dot.com generation" that had led the revolution would lead to further instability in the future. "Our old tools are totally irrelevant," he said. "The new generation is connected to the rest of the world in a way that my generation wasn't." The former prime minister praised the EU for its early work in Libya, but called for a renewed focus on "reconciling priorities if we are talking about creating order on the streets and elections in June".

http://www.publicserviceeurope.com/artic...-former-pm

**•REC** · **•REC** 14877 User ID: 14877 03-24-2012 04:53 PM **Posts: 21,062**

Turkey sends 23 tons of aid to Libya

Turkish Cooperation & Coordination Agency (TIKA) sent 23 tons of aid to Libya on Friday.

Mahmut Urhan, TIKA'S program coordinator for Libya, said the agency extended 23 tons of food and hygienic material assistance to needy Libyan families, including orphans and widows.

"The aid included child food, diapers as well as foodstuff," Urhan told AA correspondent in Tripoli.

Urhan also said TIKA donated computers, blackboards, wheelchairs, chairs, sewing machines, and heaters to Libyan people.

http://www.worldbulletin.net/?aType=habe...leID=87589