That leaves him with what most estimate to be some 10-12,000 loyal
Libyan troops. The most reliable formation is seen to be the 32nd
Brigade commandedbakugan toys by Gaddafi's son Khamis.
Repeated reports from witnesses, rights groups and others talk of
African mercenaries flown in by Gaddafi to help strengthen his
government. Exact numbers are impossible to obtain.
In Libya's east aroundbakugan toys the city of Benghazi, regular military forces
appear to have either defected to the opposition or melted away.
Citizens groups also appear to have taken arms.
But analysts say the opposition lacks much in the way of command and
control or even any form of centralized leadership. So far, opposition
units have focused primarily on defending territory and have shown
little appetite to advance.
That leaves loyalist forces trying to stem protest and perhaps regain
lost territory in Libya'spower balance west around Tripoli. The key coastal city of
Sirte between Tripoli and Benghazi is still under government control
and the east effectively lost.
But experts warn the situation remains fluid.
"We underestimate the degree of loyalty in the security forces," warns
Shashank Joshi, Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services
Institute. "The defections power balance appear to be patchwork and possibly along
tribal lines. The units that matter, such as Khamis's 32nd Brigade, are
holding together.
NAVY - STRENGTH ON PAPER
Numbers: 8,000 including coast guard.
Submarines - 2 patrol submarines.
Surface combatants - 3
Patrol and coastal combatants - 14
NAVY - REALITY
Libya's two surviving Foxtrot class diesel submarines were delivered by
the Soviet Union in the late 1980s, but outside experts have long
questioned their reliability. power balance According to IHS Jane's, in 2003 one was
reported to be in dry dock and one was sea going -- although unlikely
to be fully operational. It suggested both might already have been
abandoned.
AIR FORCE - STRENGTH ON PAPER
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