Location: Eastern Libya, on the Mediterranean Coast.
Status: Opposition controlled.
Libya鈥檚 second-largest city is now the de facto capital of what has become known as 鈥淟iberated Libya鈥� 鈥� the chunk of eastern Libya solidly controlled by the opposition. This longtime cradle of antigovernment sentiment was where the uprising began over the arrest of a human rights lawyer on Feb. 15. It was also the first city taken by opposition forces. On Feb. 20 after three days of heavy fighting, large numbers Libyan Army troops defected to the opposition there. Libyans in Benghazi have now turned their efforts toward creating a provisional government to return rule of law to those cities 鈥渇ree鈥� of Qaddafi鈥檚 control.
