End game

Libyans rejoiced yesterday as rebels entered the capital of Tripoli, but the situation is still tense as forces loyal to Moamer Kadhafi have not been totally defeated.

A Libyan rebel celebrates inside the captured military base, "Kilometre 27", base to soldiers loyal to Libyan leader Moamar Gaddafi, 16 kilometers west of the centre of Tripoli, on August 21, 2011, as the rebels said victory in Tripoli was imminent.

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Tripoli residents jubilant

By Charles Onians (AFP)

TRIPOLI — Tripoli residents spent Monday jubilant yet fearful, asking for weapons to join rebels in their cat-and-mouse war with loyalists who have besieged the city with snipers and drive-by shootings.

The capital's battle-scarred streets were all but empty, the day after rebels made a lightning advance on the capital to drive out defiant leader Moamer Kadhafi.

But rebel checkpoints were sparse, indicating they had not yet taken complete control of the city, as they awaited the arrival of thousands more fighters from already captured parts of the country.

The drab city's concrete walls have been daubed with anti-Kadhafi and pro-revolutionary graffiti, demanding freedom for Libya and an end to the leader many people in Libya consider insane.

A rebel sprays graffiti depicting Moamar Gaddafi on a wall in Gadayem, west of the capital Tripoli.

There was confusion over whether to travel quickly on the main thoroughfares, exposed to snipers in tall buildings, or slowly through the warren of tiny streets, without knowing what awaits around the next corner.

Travelling across the city was extremely difficult, with snipers, mortars and heavy machine-guns echoing down sunlit streets.

Among the high-rise buildings along the corniche, a lone cyclist braved the sniper fire, possibly acting as a scout, as the whistle of bullets cut through the silent city.

Civilians were exhausted after having stayed up most of Sunday night, enjoying the food, drink and cigarettes that they must resist during daylight hours of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, despite the burning heat.

rebel – a person who tries to remove a government or leader by force ผู้ก่อกบฏ
celebrate – to do something enjoyable in order to show that an occasion or event is special ฉลอง
capture – to take control of a place, building, etc. using force เข้าครอบครองที่ดิน
loyal – willing to support, work for, or be a friend to someone, even in difficult times จงรักภักดี ซื่อสัตย์
victory – winning a competition or a battle ชัยชนะ
imminent – expected to happen soon  ในไม่ช้า จวนเจียน จวนตัว
residents – people who live in a particular area ประชาชนที่อาศัยในท้องที่
jubilant – extremely happy because something good has happened  ปีติยินดี
weapon – an object such as a knife, gun, bomb, etc. that is used for fighting or attacking somebody อาวุธ
cat-and-mouse – a situation involving chasing, near captures and escapes
loyalist – a person or group that strongly supports someone or something, especially the government or ruler in power ผู้ซื่อสัตย์,ผู้จงรักภักดี
besiege – to cause worry or distress to someone รบกวน, ก่อกวน
sniper – someone who shoots at people from a hidden place ผู้ลอบยิง
battle-scarred – injured or damaged in a war  ได้รับความเสียหายจากสงคราม
all but – almost completely
lightning – happening very quickly
advance – moving forward การเคลื่อนไปข้างหน้า
defiant – refusing to obey a person or rule แสดงการท้าทาย, ไม่ยอมทำตาม, ไม่เชื่อฟัง
sparse – only present in small amounts or numbers and often spread over a large area บางตา, มีน้อย
indicate – to show that something is true, exists or will happen แสดง, ให้สัญญาณ
await – to wait for somebody/something  รอคอย
drab – not colourful or interesting สีไม่สดใส,  สีน้ำตาลอมเหลือง
daub – to spread a wet substance such as paint on a surface in a careless way  เปรอะเปื้อน, ละเลง, สาด
revolution – a situation when people completely change their political system or government, often by force  การปฏิรูป
graffiti – words or pictures drawn on walls in public places การวาดภาพหรือเขียนบนกำแพงในที่สาธารณะ
insane – suffering from mental illness; crazy, very stupid or crazy, especially in a way that is likely to cause serious problems, harm, or injury  ป่วยทางจิต, บ้า, ประสาท, ซึ่งขาดสติ
depict – to represent or show something in a picture or story พรรณนา, บรรยายให้เห็นภาพ
confusion – a feeling that you do not understand something or cannot decide what to do ความสับสน
thoroughfare – a main road through a place  ถนนในเมือง (โดยเฉพาะสายหลักที่การจราจรคับคั่ง)
exposed – open, uncovered or unprotected ซึ่งเปิดออก
warren – a place that is very difficult to find your way around because there are so many ways in which you could go สถานทแออัด
mortar – a large short gun that is used for firing bombs and shells over short distances ปืนครก
echo – to repeat a noise because the sound hits a surface and returns; the sound this makes สะท้อน, เสียงสะท้อน
corniche – a road on the side of a cliff or mountain or a body of water with the ground rising on one side of the road and falling away on the other ถนนที่วกเวียนตามหน้าผาหรือภูเขา
lone – single เดี่ยว หนึ่งเดียว
brave – to deal with an unpleasant or difficult situation in order to achieve something กล้าที่จะเผชิญกับ
scout – a person, an aircraft, etc. sent ahead to get information about the enemy's position, strength, etc. ทหารสอดแนม,ทหารพราน,แมวมอ
whistle – to make a high sound ทำให้เกิดเสียงหวีดหวิว
bullet – a small, metal object that is shot from a gun  กระสุนปืน
silent – very quiet; without sound เงียบ
civilian – someone who does not belong to the armed forces or the police พลเรือน
exhausted – extremely tired เหน็ดเหนื่อย
resist – to oppose or fight against someone or something ต้านทาน, ต้าน, ขัดขวาง