About John Ray
John Ray, Senior Vice President of Middle East & Asia at Atn, reported from Tripoli in late November 2011, describing the situation in the city after arriving in the early hours of the morning. He stated that he and others headed to Green Square, where they encountered celebratory crowds and rebel soldiers who had driven in from Zawiyah. Ray noted that the mood of celebration was overshadowed by "extreme tension and uncertainty," and said that rebels warned him they expected government soldiers to return.
Ray said he believed the battle for Tripoli was not over and that "the biggest part of that battle might be about to begin." He reported hearing of gun battles in the area and multiple fronts opening up around the city. Ray stated that it was clear the life of Muammar Qadhafi's regime was drawing to a close, but questioned whether it would end peacefully or with more violence.
Source: AI-verified profile updated from John Ray's recent appearances.
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Transcript (1 segments)
R
Reporter0:00
We arrived here in Tripoli in the early hours of the morning and headed straight to Green Square. There were some celebratory crowds there, rebel soldiers who had driven in from Zawiyah. But I have to say the mood of celebration was overshadowed by the extreme tension and uncertainty. Time and again we were warned by the rebels there that they expected government soldiers to come back. Basically, the battle for Tripoli isn't over. The biggest part of that battle might be about to begin. It's difficult for us to get out and tell you precisely what's happening, though we are hearing reports of gun battles in that area, as we are from a number of places around the city. We are told there are multiple fronts opening up. What is really not clear is whether this is part of a sustained fight back by what remains of the Qadhafi regime or whether it really is just a ramp. It is clear that the life of Qadhafi's regime is drawing to a close. The question is whether it will go peacefully or with more violence.
