General Khalifa Haftar And Libyan National Army On Offensive To Take Tripoli From U.N. Recognized Government
CHURCH: Two more deaths have been reported following protests outside military headquarters in Khartoum, Sudan. It brings the death toll to 10 since Saturday after crackdowns on protestors by security forces. Dozens had been injured in largely peaceful demonstrations, according to human rights watch. Protesters had been calling for the removal of President Omar al-Bashir since December. Crowds had converge outside the presidential palace and the nation's military headquarters responding to a renewed call for protest from Sudani's professional group of doctors, lawyers and journalists. The fierce fight over Libya's capital is intensifying even further. Following an airstrike by the rebel military on Tripoli's only functioning airport. The U.N. condemn the attack, calling it a serious violation of humanitarian law. The area in red on this map shows territory controlled by rebel forces. The U.N. recognizes government controls the sections in yellow. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh explains, the recent attacks on Tripoli, a part of a surprise offensive by a renegade general.</s>NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This reported strike on Mitiga International airport, the key air traffic hog for Libya doesn't take the pressure on the capital city Tripoli to a new level here. We've seen for days now the forces of General Khalifa Haftar, the predominant strongman of the east of the country, moving around that key city, edging towards the southern suburbs. There had been perhaps (inaudible), this was a show of military strength designed last Friday to perhaps pressure the peace talks going on being spearheaded by the U.N. Secretary General Antonio Gutierrez, but it seems to be less likely since he departed the country on Friday and the peace talks appear to have gone nowhere. The fear being, really that General Haftar could begin to send his forces slowly into this urban environment, whether there are many different competing militias are from pressure on each other frankly for control and it is the main seat of the U.N. recognized government of (inaudible). Frankly the struggle to get control of the country since the exemption (ph) of number of years ago. Now, many Libyans have lived through chaos since 2011 departure of Colonel Gadhafi, his bloody end and that revolution supposed to herald a new kind of way of life there. the city collapsed into these different systems, feeding warlords, General Khalifa Haftar appears to have a lot of regional support, perhaps from the Emiratis, perhaps from Egypt, perhaps even more reverently some say from Russia and even France possibly silent in background. Is this emboldening him to make this stock military moves? He seems to have the equipment, he seems to have the momentum at the moment the question is does he have the stomach to end to Tripoli main. And what will happen to those many Libyans living inside that capital city have endured so much hardships over the past years. And they see that worsen yet still. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, London.</s>CHURCH: the five day kidnapping ordeal is over for U.S. tourist and her tour guide who were taken at gunpoint in Uganda last week. But a CNN's Alex Marquardt reports concerns are being raise about a ransom that was paid to try to secure their freedom.</s>ALEXANDER MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Free at last, Kim Endicott steps out of a white van. Barefoot, hands thorn likely shaken, but physically unharmed. Welcome home she is told as she arrives back in the camp in Uganda were she had gone on safari to see the areas famous guerrillas, a lifelong dream. Endicott, who is from California and her Ugandan guide John Paul Meringue, were kidnapped last Tuesday as are driving to the Queen Elizabeth National Park. They were taken away by armed men who later used their prisoner's cellphone to demand a ransom of half 1 million dollars. Ugandan security forces backed by U.S. military support and the neighboring Democratic Republican of Congo freed the pair on Sunday. The kidnappers are still on the run.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The armed captors knew they were being hotly pursued by the joints team of security agencies.</s>MARQUARDT: Today, President Trump tweeting Uganda must bring the kidnappers to justice openly and quickly. Neither the United States nor Uganda paid ransoms, it was the safari tour company that paid in this case. Though we don't know how much there are fears that it would only encourage more kidnappings in the area.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That is the quickest way to get out of the situation like this to get somebody back, is pay the ransom, but again, it sets a bad precedent.</s>MARQUARDT: Ugandan police had said that the most likely reason for the kidnappings was that ransom money. Meaning, this looks to be more criminal than terrorism related. Especially considering how easy the handoff of these prisoners appears to have been. For security experts will tell you, only gives more incentive to others to carry out kidnappings. Of course you can't fault the safari company or Endicott's love ones for wanting to do all they could to get her and her guide back safely. Alex Marquardt, CNN, Washington.</s>CHURCH: And we'll take a short break. Still to come, the latest White House departure brings another acting secretary to the cabinet. All part of the drama which Donald Trump seems to thrive on. That is next on CNN Newsroom.