Libyan ruler Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has vowed to defeat all of his enemies, while the embattled regime continues to lose its grip on more cities. On Friday, Gaddafi told crowds of supporters in Tripoli's central Green Square to "prepare to defend Libya." "We will fight them and we will beat them," he told his supporters. "Sing, dance and be ready." He also pledged to open all weapon depots in a bid to arm forces and mercenaries loyal to his regime. Addressing the crowd, Gaddafi called on his supporters to get ready to fight for Libya, for dignity and for oil. This is Gaddafi's third statement this week.

Libyan protesters shout slogans against Gaddafi during
a demonstration in Tobruk (AP)

Brent and U.S. crude oil futures fell sharply in post-settlement trading on Thursday in a sell-off sparked by rumors that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi had been shot.

In London, ICE Brent crude for April delivery LCOJ1 dropped to a post-settlement low of $109.60 after having rallied early to $119.79, the highest since August 2008. It settled earlier at $111.36, up 11 cents. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, April crude CLJ1 slid further to $95.64, down $2.46. It had settled earlier at $97.28, down 82 cents, after touching $103.41, the highest since September 2008.

LIVE: Al Jazeera English: Live Stream
The Telegraph: Benghazi residents celebrate liberation -Video + Libya protests: live blog

PressTV: 'Gaddafi's son joins Libyan protesters'
PressTV: Libyan prosecutor general resigns
BBC: UN Human Rights Commission meets in special session for first time ever
An Average American Patriot: Ex-minister says Gaddafi will die like Hitler
Juan Cole: 90% of Libya in Rebel Hands: Qaddafi is left only with Tripoli, about 1 million people -Videos

Dan O'Huiginn: EU Military exports to Libya

The chatty style of the judgment is striking. It is written less like a judgment and more like a political stump speech by a politician trying to appear to be just plain folks. As a whole, it is simply appalling. Assange extradition. Looking at the judgment, it is quite a piece of judicial engineering. In every question that was raised, the judge either decides to side with the prosecution by completely ignoring all the evidence to the contrary (while subtly denigrating the expert witnesses), or claims or hints that the strongest argument wasn't raised by the defense (convenient, leaving us with the issue whether Assange's own lawyers - you know, the ones who thought it would be a bright idea to hire Dershowitz - are in on the conspiracy). He dismisses the main expert witness before him in the most condescending way possible, suggesting she has some kind of psychological problem with the Swedish justice system. The other defense witnesses have their evidence summarized (with little insulting jabs), and are then ignored. The judge is fascinated by the largely irrelevant communications between Assange and his lawyer while Assange was still in Sweden. This is a big issue because he later uses it to suggest that Assange is at fault for failing to stay to be interviewed, the obvious hint being that he was a guilty man fleeing the jurisdiction.

Julie Hyland: Judge rules WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can be extradited to Sweden - The verdict marks a new stage in efforts to silence Assange and WikiLeaks and prevent further disclosure of the duplicitous and criminal actions undertaken by the United States and governments across the world. Assange has made clear his intention to appeal the ruling. He has just seven days to do so. If the appeal is rejected, he could be extradited within 10 days. This is despite the fact that Assange has yet to be charged with any offence, and a mountain of evidence that he is the victim of politically motivated, trumped-up allegations.

Raymond Davis, the American spook arrested for murdering two people in Pakistan, may have been the acting head of CIA there.

A US intelligence agent arrested after shooting dead two men was the acting head of the CIA in Pakistan and had been gathering intelligence for drone attacks, according to intelligence sources. Raymond Davis, a 36-year-old former special forces soldier, had taken command after the CIA station chief's cover was blown, according to reports. American officials insist he is entitled to diplomatic immunity and that he be released immediately.

Davis has been held for almost a month in a Lahore prison while a court decides his status. The case has provoked a surge in anti-American hostility and spawned a wave of conspiracy theories. Many Pakistanis have questioned whether Davis was really the victim of an attempted robbery – as he told police – and exactly why he was driving around Lahore with a Glock handgun in a rented car.

AWIP: Pak intel: US killer official linked to CIA

On Thursday morning, the Israeli soldiers abducted two Palestinian children from the town of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron, and searched several houses. Mohammad Awad, Media spokesman for the Palestinian Solidarity Project, stated that the Israeli occupation abducted Omar ‘Alkam, 15 years old, and Mohanad Sabarna, 17, after invading their houses and ransacking their belongings. Security Sources reported to Palestine News Agency ‘WAFA’, that the Israeli military invaded the town of Yatta, south of Hebron, and searched many houses. These houses belong to Ismael abu Sobha, Mohamad Moghnem, Ibrahim al-Hlais and ‘Adel Nassar. Furthermore, the Israeli army invaded Hebron, town of Halhoul, Sa’er, al-Fawwar Refugee Camp; stopped Palestinian citizens’ vehicles and checked the identities of Passengers.

Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (17 – 23 February 2011)

Summary: Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (17 – 23 February 2011)

Shootings: During the reporting period, IOF killed 3 Palestinian civilians and a resistance activist and wounded 10 others (two children, two workers and 6 resistance activists) in the Gaza Strip. They also wounded 8 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children in the West Bank. In the Gaza Strip, on 17 February 2011, IOF killed 3 Palestinian civilians who were attempting to infiltrate into Israel to search for jobs. IOF fired artillery shells and gunshots at the victims. On 23 February 2011, IOF killed a Palestinian resistance activist and wounded 6 others and two children in the east of Gaza City. IOF fired two artillery shells at a number of activists of The al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad). During the reporting period, two Palestinian workers, including a child, were wounded when Israeli soldiers positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired at workers who were collecting scraps of construction materials. On 23 February 2011, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the northern Gaza Strip. No casualties were reported. In the West Bank, during the reporting period, IOF used excessive force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall in the West Bank. As a result, 8 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were wounded, and dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation or sustained bruises. Additionally, IOF arrested 15 Palestinian civilians, including 9 children, and two international human rights defenders.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 47 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 10 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children. In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 3 limited incursions into the southern and central Gaza Strip, during which they leveled areas of Palestinian land.

Restrictions on Movement: Israel had continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

NBC Nightly News. Despite an "I'm with Walker" astroturf campaign, the truth about Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's union busting strategy was leaked today in a prank phone call. Also revealed, Charles & David Koch's plan to buy and privitize Wisconsin power plants.