Libyan rebels seize Tripoli (UPDATED)

On Monday night Libya's rebels have entered the capital, Tripoli, ВВС reports. After several hours of fighting the rebels claimed that the military men who defended the capital and Col Muammar Gaddafi personally defected to the opposition and "joined the revolution". Libyan leader's son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi is under arrest. 

At present moment, the rebels control the main square of the capital, the building of the state television, the airport and the way to Tunisia.

Gaddafi's destiny is still unknown. He addressed to the Libyans from the TV screen three times within this night. However, his voice sounded on air for the last time several hours ago. The dictator's appeals were no longer broadcasted when the rebels seized the TV-center, and at present moment no one knows where he is. It was informed before that the Prime Minister of the country managed to escape to Tunisia, while Gaddafi's three sons were captured by the rebels.

The U.S. President Barack Obama terminated his vacation in connection with the events in Libya and came up with a statement. President Obama says that Col Gaddafi's "iron fist" regime has reached a "tipping point" and the Libyan autocrat must leave now to avoid further bloodshed. In a statement, the US president also urges Libyan rebels to respect human rights, show leadership, preserve the institutions of the Libyan state and move towards democracy.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez came up with a totally opposite statement - he accused the West of interference into Libyan affairs and of desire to get control over the oil deposits.

Besides, the Internet started working in Tripoli for the first time within the last several months. One of the cell-phone operators transferred 30 dollars to the accounts of all the subscribers so that they could use their phones.

Libyan events influenced international stock markets - prices for oil went down.

Photo — AFP