In Libya this week things have remained pretty much dead locked. On Thursday (15/9/11) French President Nicholas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron both paid a joint visit to both Tripoli and Benghazi to celebrate the rebel victory that has yet to arrive. Their visit acting as a catalyst for a large rebel offensive on Sirte, Bani Walid and Sabha at the edges of the large section of the country still under the control of the Libyan government.
At Bani Walid the rebel assault was quickly turned back by Libyan government forces as was a second assault on Friday (16/9/11). The rebels now claim that they are waiting for civilians to leave the area before attempting another assault. At Sirte the rebels had slightly more success making advances throughout Thursday and Friday with the help of NATO air support. By Saturday (17/9/11) though Libyan government forces succeeded in halting the rebels some 40km (25 miles) outside the city where they remain. At Sabha the rebels were able to capture the district surrounding the airport by Monday (19/9/11). They are currently trying to consolidate their position amid fierce street to street fighting.
The rebel's Transitional National Council (TNC) remains in chaos. On Sunday (18/9/11) they once again failed to form an executive committee/political cabinet meaning that the TNC currently consists of just the President Mustafa Abdel Jalil and the Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril.
On the diplomatic front the TNC were given last minute permission to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Libya's behalf. This allowed a meeting of the International Contact Group on Libya to be held as a side event at the UNGA today (20/9/11). So far all that's been announced is that the United States will re-open it's Embassy in Tripoli and it will be the UN's responsibility to deal with Libya's overland river network that was destroyed by NATO bombing creating a drought and possible humanitarian crisis in Libya.
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