Libya

[bibblebub]

It seems the situation has rapidly deteriorated, with planes bombing their own civilians.

It's at times like this that Twitter does show what it can do best, and that is provide up-to-the minute news updates

[HabDabs]

>>All mobile phones in tripoli are not working - I can't contact anyone, and landlines are also extremely unreliable. Pray for tripoli. <<

If the internet is down and the phone network shut down how are these people sending out messages

[bibblebub]

The Italians are getting ready to send troops?

[Booldawg]

habdabs; maybe they're not in tripoli but trying to contact people who live there?

[Poor-Alfie]

the headline

Camel For Gadaffi

made me laugh.

[AB Editor]

I've added a widget for you

[mccfluff]

wow ed that's clever

[AB Editor]

Would anyone support western intervention to provide security for protesters?

[jake-the-peg]

I think Ed that would be insanely dumb.

Pictures of western troops on the streets of Lybia would look like the western overthrow of an Arab country

[ummmm]

It's all very worrying...but no, we should keep out.

Ed - everytime I click this question the widget goes back to the beginning. Is it suppose to do that?

[McMouse]

People in Libya are getting their messages out using sat phones which cannot be shut down by the authorities.

[AB Editor]

Yes, it should do that Umm.

[This is not an editorial message]

I don't think it is a particularly good idea either, but in general I'd prefer to see British troops involved in protecting civilians attempting to overthrow a despot than other recent forays into the near east. Wishful thinking obviously.

[Non editorial message Ends]

Spare Ed

[rov1100]

It now appears that a few thousand home grown demonstrators can change the world of evil dictators than all the resources put up by the US and Britain and met with failure to boot. Lessons learnt should not to interfere in how other countries are run because you disagree with them!

The secret weapon is obviously Facebook and the internet.

[jake-the-peg]

Totally disagree Rov

The key factor for dictators from Julius Caeser to te present day is staing in control of the Army.

It's difficult to know whether to what extent that is the case in Lybia right now but if the Army is fully behind him - well you can't fight machine gun fire with bottles and bravado

[Khandro]

Security for protesters could mean British soldiers fighting the Libyan forces, who have in turn been armed with weapons supplied by Britain. No thanks! Secondary to that, this is, thanks to Ed. and his widget, the first time that I have seen twitter at work and it looks like a madhouse to me.

[AB Editor]

Khandro - it is! Sometimes it does good things though.

Spare Ed

[LoftyLottie]

Have just decided that Twitter would give me a real headache!! It muddles me brain!!

[whiskeryron]

I agree with LoftyLottie just trying to understand it (Wikipedia) is giving my ar$e the headache

[dr b]

"Would anyone support western intervention to provide security for protesters?"

If it can be confirmed that Libya is using its air force to bomb/strafe protesters, NATO should destroy Libya's airfields and promise to shoot down any planes it sees in the sky.

[Khandro]

Gung Ho!!! Go zap em, dr b.