Is the Libyan military about to dump Gaddafi?

There’s an intriguing Sky News report this evening which suggests that the Libyan Army might be about to turn away from Gaddafi. The channel is reporting that soldiers in the second city of Benghazi have turned from the regime and have told locals that they have ‘liberated’ the city. If the bulk of the military abandon him, then Gaddafi is done for.

This combined with the news that the demonstrations have spread to Tripoli and that several of the tribes are joining the cause suggests that the revolution is Libya is gaining momentum. Certainly, the live resignation of the Libyan Ambassador to China live on air indicates that the governing class is split. Set against this though is that Gaddafi is nothing if not a survivor.

If the40 year old Gaddafi regime were to fall, it would add to the sense that the tectonic plates of the Arab world are shifting as well as reopening the debate about Britain’s decision under the last government to cozy up to the regime.