Libya's Transitional National Council (TNC) suffered a setback Aug. 26 when the African Union, in an emergency summit at Addis Ababa, refused to recognize it as the country's legitimate government. The TNC has been recognised by more than 40 countries, but divisions remain within the AU. South African President Jacob Zuma, one of only three African heads of state to attend the summit, opposed recognition. He said that the AU would not recognize the TNC as long as fighting continues. The AU has called for an "all-inclusive transitional government" for Libya, that could involve some Qaddafi officials. That proposal was rejected by the TNC. (The Independent, Aug. 27)

Eighteen people—including two civilians—were killed, and some 35 injured, when two suicide bombers struck military barracks in the Algerian town of Cherchel, some 100 kilometers west of the capital, Aug. 26. The attack came soon after iftar—the moment when Muslims break their daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan. It was the third such attack in recent weeks. On July 16, militants used the same technique—a suicide blast at the front gate, followed by a second charging in on a motorcycle—claimed four lives, including one civilian, at a police station in Bordj Ménaïl, Boumerdes province, in the Kabylia region. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility. On Aug. 14, a suicide car bomb attack outside of a police station left 29 wounded, including 11 police, in Tizi-Ouzou, Kabylia's regional capital. Prior to this summer, Algeria's last suicide attack was on July 25, 2010, at a police barracks in a village near Tizi Ouzou. (Ennahar Aug. 27, Reuters, Long War Journal, Aug. 26)

The most intransigent leader of the Tuareg rebels in Mali was killed Aug. 26 in a supposed accident in in his remote Saharan homeland. "Ibrahim ag-Bahanga died Friday in an accident in north-eastern Mali. His funeral has already taken place," said Baye ag Alhassane, a relative in a statement. The nature and circumstances of the accident were not made clear. Local sources cited by Reuters say he was involved in a dispute with fellow traffickers who were moving weapons to the Libyan rebels, who just toppled Moammar Qaddafi.

Juan Cole of the Informed Comment blog was a hero of the left when he slapped down mainstream media jive on the Iraq war just a few short years ago. But now he takes on idiot left jive on Libya—which has at times deteriorated into shameless cheerleading for Qaddafi. You don't have to support the NATO intervention—you can voice legitimate protest over the civilian casualties, and the Orwellian arguments that have been raised in defense of the bombing. But you can still recognize the anti-war left's own Orwellian arguments—and join with Cole in acknowledging that "this is a moment of celebration, not only for Libyans but for a youth generation in the Arab world that has pursued a political opening across the region." In a piece picked up by CNN (!), Cole identifies "Top ten myths about the Libya war," which we slightly condense here:

As fighting continues in Tripoli, Qaddafi once again took to the airwaves to appeal to his followers to "purify" the capital of "rats, crusaders and unbelievers"—indicating that at least some of the city's TV transmitters remain in his hands. In what accounts called an "audio broadcast on loyalist satellite TV channels," Qaddafi sounded as defiant—and delusional—as ever:

Representatives of Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) flew to Doha, Qatar, Aug. 24 to meet with officials from around the world, seeking $2.5 billion in emergency financing for an interim government. Mahmoud Jibril, the NTC's number two leader behind President Mustafa Abdel Jalil, said in a press conference that the rebel government-in-waiting will soon move to Tripoli, and is eager for emergency funds ahead of upcoming Eid al-Fitr celebration that marks the end of Ramadan. Abdel Jalil was quoted in Italy's Repubblica newspaper saying that he expects presidential and parliamentary elections in Libya by next April. "We want a democratic government and a just constitution," he said. (CSM, Aug. 24)

As Libyan rebels continue to hunt Tripoli for Moammar Qaddafi—and to battle the remnants of his forces—the elusive strongman again delivered two broadcast messages during the night. In a speech carried by the website of the TV station headed by his son Seif al-Islam, he said he had abandoned his Tripoli compound after it had been bombed by NATO warplanes. "Bab al-Azizya was nothing but a heap of rubble after it was the target of 64 NATO missiles and we withdrew from it for tactical reasons," he said. The speech gave no indication of his whereabouts. In a later audio message on Syria-based Arrai Oruba TV, Qaddafi urged residents to "cleanse Tripoli of rats." He claimed he had walked the streets of Tripoli incognito, and was heartened by Libyans fighting back against the rebels. (Middle East Online, Aug. 24)

Libyan rebels on Aug. 23 stormed Moammar Qaddafi's fortress-like compound in Tripoli, the Bab al-Aziziya, blasting through the gates and meeting no resistance, after hours of gun-battles in the surrounding streets. The compound was overrun by rebels and Tripoli citizens generally. A statue of Qaddafi was dragged out and dismantled, his head thrown to the ground. One young man raided Qaddafi's bedroom, and was interviewed for the cameras while wearing the strongman's infamous gold-braided colonel's cap, gold chain and golden scepter. But there is no sign of Qaddafi or his family. State TV, apparently still in pro-Qaddafi hands, continued to broadcast audio messages from the missing strongman, but they were presumably pre-recorded. Rebel leaders say they believe Qaddafi is still in Tripoli, and they are determined to hunt him down.