Tag: Pulitzer Center

Christopher Livesay: The city of Sirte. Colonel Ibrahim Bin Rabaa is the commander of Libyan counter-terrorism forces in Sirte. ISIS killed him. Christopher Livesay: So far this year in Libya there have already been more than twice the number of ISIS attacks. But we ask and we hope for help from other countries. Christopher Livesay: That's largely because ISIS isn't Libya's only problem. Christopher Livesay: And take this border crossing, between Libya's rival governments in the East and West. When ISIS was around, trafficking was at its peak. Sometimes they would even put terrorists on the migrant ships to Europe. Christopher Livesay: The two cousins eventually met in battle.

Meanwhile, Vice President Pence traveled to Colombia to meet with opposition leader Juan Guaido, promising that the U.S. would increase sanctions on Venezuela in an attempt to oust President Maduro, and calling for other countries to do the same. Special correspondent Nadja Drost reports. Nadja Drost: The town of Urena on the border with Colombia was the front line on Saturday in the battle between the two leaders for control of Venezuela. Nadja Drost: They're following a plan devised by the man they now consider their president, Juan Guaido, who is trying to peel away support of President Nicolas Maduro from the military to allow aid into the country. Protesters want to make their way onto the bridge that crosses the river into Colombia, but the national guard has been blockading all groups from access. No matter what happens, protesters here today say they will find a way to break the blockade of the national guard in order to allow humanitarian aid from Colombia to pass the border into Venezuela. Nadja Drost: As the national guard took to the streets and started firing at protesters with rubber bullets, many of them were rescued by mobile units of volunteer nurses and brought to the nearest safe house, before being transferred to this private health clinic opening its doors to anyone injured. While the opposition blames Maduro for not allowing shipments of food and health supplies donated by the U.S., seen by the Maduro's government as their number one enemy, the government says the effort to force in aid is a form of foreign intervention and threat to sovereignty. While the Venezuelan Red Cross has offered to administer whatever aid is in the country, it has refused to participate in an operation where alleged political motivations eclipse humanitarian ones. Patients either don't come because they know the hospital can't to treat them, or they cross into Colombia.