Turkey brings aid and influence to Libya

EuroNews ^ | 4/4/2011 | N/A

[a_Turk]

The Turkish ferry sent to rescue hundreds of wounded Libyans from the fighting has left Benghazi to sail for home.

On board are 250 evacuees awaiting medical treatment in Turkey. Some have been recounting the horrors they left behind, as for 40 days Gaddafi’s forces assaulted the besieged city of Misrata.

“We were bombarded every day by Gaddafi’s tanks and missiles. In Misrata people can’t even leave their houses,” said one wounded rebel.

They have bullet and shrapnel wounds – and tales of everyday hardship in the town cut off from the world.

“In the city there is no more water, no more electricity, no more medecine, no more communications and not much food,” said another man.

The Ankara was chartered by the Turkish government. After four days waiting offshore, Turkey says it was finally given the green light by Gaddafi’s government for the ship to dock in Misrata.

It entered the port, protected by 10 F-16 fighters and two frigates, and picked up its wounded human cargo. The ship sailed on to Benghazi, where it took on board another hundred or so injured people before heading for Cesme in Turkey.

Turkey, NATO’s only Muslim country, has kept open relations with both sides in Libya. It has strong historical ties with the country, which was part of the Ottoman empire before World War One. Despite Ankara’s reticence over allied military action, Libya’s opposition is now grateful for the humanitarian aid.

“We would like to thank the Turkish government for this help and we urge them to stand with us, to help us in getting our freedom, our liberty. We would like to ask Mr Erdogan (the Turkish prime minister) to stand with the free Libyan people and not with the regime,” said Iman Gaigas of the Libyan National Council.

Even before the Ankara set sail, Turkey had already secured the safe evacuation of nearly 20,000 of its own nationals. Its latest move may not be its last in what appears to be a growing role in the region.

[a_Turk]

Rebel gestures carrying 250 wounded people
A rebel gestures in front of a Turkish ship carrying 250 wounded people from the besieged Libyan city of Misrata, upon its arrival at a port in Benghazi April 3, 2011. The white ferry Ankara, which the Turkish government chartered and turned into a hospital ship, docked in the eastern Libyan rebel stronghold of Benghazi on Sunday to pick up more wounded. The ship will later head on to a port in Turkey where a field hospital had been set up.



Men hold as they look out
Men hold onto a Turkish flag as they look out from the deck of a Turkish ship carrying 250 wounded people from the besieged Libyan city of Misrata, during its arrival at a port in Benghazi April 3, 2011. The white ferry Ankara, which the Turkish government chartered and turned into a hospital ship, docked in the eastern Libyan rebel stronghold of Benghazi on Sunday to pick up more wounded. The ship will later head on to a port in Turkey where a field hospital had been set up.

[mewykwistmas]

Well, Turkey there would actually be an improvement.

[gleeaikin]

Here is the most detailed update on protests and struggles in Syria, Yemen, Libya, Bahrein, etc. that I could find this evening. There are about a dozen videos and details on several different stories.

[gleeaikin]

Nuts, I did it again. I keep forgetting to click on the link:

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/latest-updates-on-mideast-protests-and-libyan-war/?partner=rss&emc=rss

[no-to-illegals]

Thank you both.

[paladin1_dcs]

Looks like Gomer is continuing to build up it’s leadership role in the ME. Wonder what Persia’s role in this is. We’re seeing a lot of the Ezekiel 38 names allied lately, which is interesting considering that many have been historically less than allies. Persia, Gomer (Turkey), Libya and Ethiopia so far. Torgarmah, Tubal and Meshech are accounted for too. Interesting days ahead, to be sure.