"The killing of a top rebel commander, Gen.
Abdul Fatah Younis, by his own men Thursday exposed divisions within a rebel
movement now facing rising anger from Younis' powerful Obeidi tribe. The rebel
Transitional
National Council seemed paralyzed by the killing, issuing a
disingenuous communique that refused to acknowledge that a dissident rebel
faction had killed Younis. On Sunday, rebel militiamen engaged in a
shootout here with militiamen described as "fifth column" saboteurs loyal to
Kadafi. The firefight underscored the deep fissures along tribal and political
fault lines, pitting ex-Kadafi loyalists against former street protesters and
tribal-based militias. Meanwhile, the council is desperately short of cash
and fuel as its poorly trained fighters struggle to make headway against the
government's military. Most rebel supporters are resigned to a long, bloody
fight to overthrow Kadafi. "I
wouldn't say the revolution has slowed down, but it has matured and become more
realistic," said Mustafa Gheriani, a former spokesman for the rebel council who
is now in private business."