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Coordinates: 32°28′N 14°34′E / 32.467°N 14.567°E / 32.467; 14.567
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On August 1 Rebels claimed to have taken the city from pro-Gaddafi forces with help from [[NATO]].<ref>
On August 1 Rebels claimed to have taken the city from pro-Gaddafi forces with help from [[NATO]].<ref>
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/01/libya-rebels-take-zlitan-raf-clears</ref> However, fighting still appeared to be mostly centered in the eastern suburbs of the town, contradicting earlier rebel reports that they reached the city center <ref>http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE76Q30I20110803</ref>.The Gaddafi government stated they were in full control of Zliten, following the counter-attack they said pushed back the rebels to their original positions, and journalists who were taken on a tour of the city, including the city center, confirmed no sign of rebel forces<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14413157</ref>
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/01/libya-rebels-take-zlitan-raf-clears</ref> However, fighting still appeared to be mostly centered in the eastern suburbs of the town, contradicting earlier rebel reports that they reached the city center <ref>http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE76Q30I20110803</ref>.The Gaddafi government stated they were in full control of Zliten, following the counter-attack they said pushed back the rebels to their original positions, and journalists who were taken on a tour of the city, including the city center, confirmed no sign of rebel forces<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14413157</ref>

⚫
On August 8, the regime claimed that NATO air-strikes killed 85 people, including 33 childen, 32 women and 20 men, in a village near Zliten. Reporters were unable to verify this claim entirely,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/libya-aug-9-2011-1511|agency=Al Jazeera Blogs|date=9 August 2011|accessdate=9 August 2011|title=Tuesday, August 9, 2011 - 15:11 - Libya}}</ref> though they were shown 30 bodies in a local morgue, including two children. Officials claimed that the rest of the bodies were taken to other location, but this was not independently confirmed.<ref>[http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE7780ZZ20110809?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0]</ref>
'''NATO airstrike massacres civilians in Hospital'''

⚫
On August 5, NATO airstrikes killed 85 people, including 33 childen, 32 women and 20 men, attacking a children's Hospital near Zliten. <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.uruknet.info/?p=80261}}</ref> Reporters were shown 30 bodies in a local morgue, including two children. Officials claimed that the rest of the bodies were taken to other location, but this was not independently confirmed.<ref>[http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE7780ZZ20110809?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0]</ref>


==Notes==
==Notes==

Revision as of 18:01, 16 August 2011

Zliten
زليتن
Zlitan
CountryLibya
DistrictMisrata
Population
 • Total109,972
Time zoneUTC + 2

Zliten (Arabic: زليتن Zlīţan) is a town in the Misrata District of Libya. It is located on the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea west of the Gulf of Sidra. It was the capital of the former Zlitan District.

Location

The name Zliten is given to both the town and the whole area. As a town, Zliten is situated 160 km (99 mi) east of the capital, Tripoli, and about 35 km (22 mi) east of the ancient Roman city of Leptis Magna. It is about 60 km (37 mi) west of the city of Misrata and 40 km (25 mi) east East of Al-Khums. It has spread over an area of about 8 km2 (3.1 sq mi). The district of Zliten is widespread and covers an area of 3,000 km2 (1,200 sq mi). It is surrounded by the Mediterranean from the north, Misrata from the east, Bani Walid from the south and Al-Khums from the west.

Name

The etymology of the city's name in Arabic is a very controversial subject. Some experts contend that it originated from an old Tamazight (Berber) designation, while others claim it is actually from Arabic for the fig trees shadow as that was where traders used to meet in passing between Tripoli and Misrata. Originally two words, it was later compounded into one word.[1]

Education

Zliten is home to one of Libya's most renowned Islamic universities, Al-Jamiaa Al-Asmariya (Arabic: جامع الاسمربة i.e. Al-Asmariya Islamic University). Faculties include the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Political Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry and Mouth Surgery, and the Faculty of Education. They are all under the supervision of Al-Merqib University. There is also a higher vocational training center covering various engineering fields.

Economy

Zliten has several modern banking institutions, a major shopping center and the Zliten Hotel, the city's top accommodation for tourists. In 2001, the Libyan Government proposed a number of state company projects for which joint ventures would be considered. These included an expansion of Arab Cement Company’s (ACC) cement plant in Zliten valued at $169 million.[2] In February 2005, the initial public offering of shares in the formerly state-owned ACC resulted in the sale of 60% of the company. ACC proposed to build a second 1-Mt/yr-capacity cement production line at its Zliten plant.[3] Arab Union Contracting Co. (AUCC) commissioned a 1.2-Mt/yr-capacity cement clinker plant near Zliten in December 2004; commercial production began in September 2005. AUCC began a feasibility study for the construction of a second clinker production line at its production facility.[4] In 2004, construction began on extending a seawater desalination plant in Zliten with a total capacity of 10,000 cubic metres (8.1 acre⋅ft) per day using the multi-stage flash distillation process.[5]

History and culture

The Slat Abn Shaif Synagogue, Zliten, before WWII

There are many ancient Roman sites in Zliten, such as the Villa of Omira ('Darbuk Omira' ), and the Castle in Al-Jumaa. The town also contains the Mausoleum and Mosque of Sidi Abd As-Salam Al-Asmar, a revered Islamic saint who lived and died in Zliten during the 15th century. There is some fine Arabic calligraphy in sandstone on top of the outer pillars of the building saying al-mulk-'illah ("Everything to Allah").[6] The town is famous for its olives, palm trees and citrus fruits along beautiful coastal shores. The Slat Abn Shaif Synagogue (Hebrew: בית הכנסת צלאת בן שאיף) in Zliten is a historic synagogue and Lag Ba'omer pilgrimage site for Libyan Jews. It is over 900 years old.

Tarbuni

Zliten has a proliferation of date palms that yield what is considered by many to be the best tarbuni (date juice) in Libya. Tarbuni is often served with asida, made from flour, boiled with salt, and eaten with olive and date juice. Asida is usually reserved to commemorate the birth of the Islamic prophet Muhammad (Mawlid al-Nabi, celebrated on the twelfth day of Rabi al-Awwal).[7] As-Sida is also the celebratory dish of choice for Tripolitanian families when a child is born.[8]

Zliten in the Libyan Civil War

During the 2011 Libyan Civil War, Zliten has been contested between forces loyal to Gaddafi, and opposition fighters who have been trying to seize the strategically located city to allow them to advance to the capital Tripoli. In mid-June 2011, the Zliten uprising by rebel fighters against the military garrison in the city was crushed.[9] The town was on the front line by July as rebels from Misrata continued their attempts to take control of the town from the loyalists based there during the Battle of the Misrata frontline.[10] In mid-July 2011, Zliten was the site of a massive pro-Gadaffi rally when thousands of Gadaffi supporters gathered on the main square in the city to show their support to the Libyan leader.[11][12] On August 1 Rebels claimed to have taken the city from pro-Gaddafi forces with help from NATO.[13] However, fighting still appeared to be mostly centered in the eastern suburbs of the town, contradicting earlier rebel reports that they reached the city center [14].The Gaddafi government stated they were in full control of Zliten, following the counter-attack they said pushed back the rebels to their original positions, and journalists who were taken on a tour of the city, including the city center, confirmed no sign of rebel forces[15]

NATO airstrike massacres civilians in Hospital

On August 5, NATO airstrikes killed 85 people, including 33 childen, 32 women and 20 men, attacking a children's Hospital near Zliten. [16] Reporters were shown 30 bodies in a local morgue, including two children. Officials claimed that the rest of the bodies were taken to other location, but this was not independently confirmed.[17]

Notes

  1. ^ "سفير السلام: سلسة مدينتي (زليتن)أو زليتانيا" ("Ambassador of Peace: The city of Zlitan (Zletn) or Zlitania"), in Arabic, accessed 31 May 2009
  2. ^ P. Mobbs 2001 p. 19.1
  3. ^ P. Mobbs 2005 p.25.1
  4. ^ Tripoli focuses on lack of cement supply: (2005) Middle East Economic Digest, v. 49, no. 26, p. 25
  5. ^ M. Ashour (2004) p.216
  6. ^ A. Ham p.148
  7. ^ J. Esposito p.198
  8. ^ A. Ham p.147
  9. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/12/world/africa/12libya.html?_r=1 Qaddafi Forces Shell Rebels Near Misurata]. Nytimes.com. Retrieved on 2011-06-12.
  10. ^ Libya rebels inch closer to Tripoli
  11. ^ "Nations Formally Support Libyan Opposition". SkyNews. 15 July 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  12. ^ "U.S. recognizes Libyan rebels' authority". CNN. 15 July 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  13. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/01/libya-rebels-take-zlitan-raf-clears
  14. ^ http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE76Q30I20110803
  15. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14413157
  16. ^ http://www.uruknet.info/?p=80261. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. ^ [1]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zliten.

32°28′N 14°34′E / 32.467°N 14.567°E / 32.467; 14.567

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