Libya: TNC Executive Board “Fired;” Oil Protection Force

Al-Jazeera is reporting that the Libyan Transitional National Council “has fired its executive board and has asked Mahmoud Jabril, its chairman, to re-elect a new one.” According to the private newspaper, the Tripoli Post, no reasons have been given for this move and no announcement has been made about replacements.

Ethan Chorin, recently returned from Benghazi, offers an analysis in Foreign Policy of his experience witnessing the various divisions within the free-Libya capital city.

The Libyan rebels have also announced they intend to form an “oil protection force” to maintain security throughout the country’s oil installations, in expectation of renewed oil production from eastern Libya. The rebels hope to use the monies generated to boost the Libyan economy and decrease the reliance on foreign aid. The force will be outfitted with night vision equipment and trucks from Turkey.

Fighting continues in the west of Libya as rebels appear to have retained control of Bir al-Ghanam. The rebels are continuing to move ever closer to Tripoli, but have faced increased resistance from forces loyal to Muammar Gadhafi, and have suffered increased casualties.