nbc's jim maceda is inside libya again tonight, in tripoli. jim, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. well, moammar gadhafi may be losing his grip on power, but not his defiance. while his people are bracing for the worst. preparing for war. a short drive outside tripoli, and one sees the gauntlet close up, facing any invading rebel force. hundreds of tanks and heavy artillery pieces have turned the city of 2 million into a fortress. it's fast becoming libyan leader moammar gadhafi's last strong hold. less than 30 miles away in the rebel held town of zawiyah, protesters celebrated their latest victory. last night they faced down a major counterattack by gadhafi troops and tanks and won. but gadhafi's son, saif, the regime's de facto spokesperson, took the setback in stride. >> if you have one or two or three thousand demonstrators, it doesn't mean everything is done, and it's over. >> reporter: as the stand-off continues, both sides are fighting to win a war of words and images. in benghazi, international news cameras were brought to

jim maceda in tripoli. we heard them use the phrase beyond libya some were billing this as a day of rage across the arab world, in places like bahrain, jordan and in egypt, where protesters returned to tahrir square where we just were, demanding the new government take power from the army now and quickly make good on all those pledges of reform. and in yemen where tens of thousands turned out, both for and against the president, who today rejected a plan to give up power there by the end of the year. >>> turning to news in this country, the world of college basketball was rocked this week as one of the nation's top-ranked teams, brigham young, suspended one of its best players for violating that school's strict honor code. the player's not talking. he faces possible expulsion. and this has become a national news story because so many have publicly questioned whether the punishment here fits the crime. the story from nbc's lee cowan. >> reporter: winning can be intoxicating, but that's not what got brigham y

this time may be no different at all. >> jim maceda from inside tripoli tonight. jim, thanks. >>> further to the east we want to go now to our chief foreign correspondent, richard engel, in libyan rebel territory in tobruk. richard, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. there is certainly a feeling of relief and gratitude among the people of eastern libya, but also the rebels. but now there is also a dependency. these rebels from what we were able to see today are now completely dependent on outside military help. rebels today celebrated a victory that wasn't theirs, but which may have saved their lives. rebels say these government armored vehicles and artillery were heading into benghazi when they were attacked by western air strikes. if this much fire power had reached the poorly defended city, gadhafi would almost certainly have retaken benghazi. >> these things, okay, attacked benghazi people. they destroy completely. >> reporter: with renewed confidence, now the rebels are on the offensive again. on a highway outside tobruk, we saw rebels heading to

>> jim maceda in tripoli for us tonight. jim, thanks. >>> the situation at libya's borders has become what the u.n. now calls a humanitarian crisis. thousands more foreigners are desperate to get out. many of them can't. they're stranded. libya's border with tunisia is mobbed with those trying to flee. and remember tunisia is dealing with a new post-revolution government themselves. we have a report there tonight from emma murphy, from our british part itn. >> reporter: this is an exodus on a most incredible scale. thousands of desperate people crushed together. they carry everything they now own. and for some, the travel and the terror of their journey proved too much. amidst the mass of people children passed from person to person to safety. 2-year-old clifford and his exhausted family are trying to return to india. >> they've helped a lot. i must thank them. >> reporter: there are around a million and a half foreign workers in libya. some of the poorest people in society. now they're trying to leave. these thousands of peo

jim maceda, nbc news, tripoli. >>> here at home, the fbi and federal agents are trying to figure out who hid a pipe bomb in a newspaper that injured an elderly man when it exploded. the vacaville man is recovering after surgery. investigators say the bomb exploded when the 80-year-old picked up his sunday paper yesterday morning. it's unclear whether he was targeteded or a random victim of a dangerous prank. neighbors tell us they can't make any sense of what happened. >> nice, quiet neighbors. he was an older gentleman. he just keeps his lawn mowed and minds his own business. >> the victim is recovering at uc-davis medicine condition. serious but stable. >>> tonight jurors in the barry bonds perjury trial are digesting the shocking and descriptive testimony given by the slugger's longtime mistress. taken the stand for much of the day, bell told how bonds attributed a 1999 injury to steroids. she also said how he threatened to cut out her breast implanteds and burn down the arizona home he bought for her. further testimony included details of his shrinking testicles, back acne and ot

jim maceda is our man in tripoli. jim, there you are and so this begins and it's proven an act of folly to try to predict gadhafi's next move, but what are the likelihoods here? >> reporter: you're absolutely right, brian. i don't pretend to be the expert. i don't think we can overstate, however, gadhafi's instinct for survival. he's managed to rule some 42 years through u.s. bombings and several coup attempts, so this crisis must be a little bit familiar to him. analysts who know gadhafi well say that he'll have to pull back his forces from some of the key towns in the east like benghazi. he's not stupid, they say, and he'll know now that his rule, his life, in fact, are at stake. he may try to negotiate a truce, try to cling to power in what some are calling a north african bosnia, rebels in the east, he and his family controlling the rest with some african or u.n. peacekeepers in between. but, brian, that's if the gadhafi, the pragmatist shows up. if it's the other gadhafi, who knows what will happen. >> jim maceda

. >> reporter: i'm jim maceda in tripoli. moammar gadhafi, the arab world's longest-serving leader, chose this day, the anniversary of his revolution, and this crowd packed with supporters and dozens of foreign journalists, to set the record straight. here is what he said about libya's uprising. there is no uprising, no power struggle and no internal problems in libya. it's the kind of head-snapping response the world has come to know. gadhafi in his flowing robes and head held high and speaking for two and a half hours hardly looked like a spent force. he's always been eccentric, female bodyguards and the ukrainian nurse and the tent even in new york. some called him defiant and others delusional. which one is it? >> i would make the point that you don't get to run a country for more than four decades by being a flake. >> reporter: gadhafi has survived through a mix of patronage, keeping real power within his tribe and ruthless brutality. there is a conspiracy to control the libyan oil and to control the libyan land and colo

. >>> let's go to our team on the ground inside libya, first to tripoli and jim maceda, who had a chance today to go out and inspect some of the bomb damage there. jim, good evening. >> reporter: hi, brian. that's right, we did get a chance to break the routine of one controlled media event after the next. and actually talked to people in the street of our own choosing. and if anyone worried about rebellion, you would never know it. a naval warehouse the size of two football fields turned into a mass of smoldering metal. the six cruise missiles struck late last night and triggered this wave of anti-aircraft fire in the skies over tripoli. but the damage was already done. the roof blown away, the floor cratered. nothing here escaped destruction. the target, these four large multiple rocket launchers, capable of firing surface to air missiles and taking down nato planes. but our libyan government handlers were determined to prove otherwise. >> this is just for school, people training here and everything is empty. why is it broken? why did they destroy this building? >> reporter: the coalit

jim maceda is in tripoli, which is part of a new no-fly zone in effect now. he has the view from there tonight. >> reporter: only days ago, pro-gadhafi forces were pushing relentlessly along this road and about to take the rebel capital of benghazi, but today this is what remained. bodies, among dozens of destroyed tanks and artillery pieces, some still smoldering. now, some 20 miles from benghazi, there were only rebels, all confident that with their newly found firepower they could beat gadhafi. >> we are against him completely. no one -- it's over. it is over, over, over. >> reporter: but gadhafi has other ideas. in a new voice recording, which aired on libyan tv today, he called the air strikes acts of terror and swore he'd defeat the invaders. "we are preparing ourselves for a long war in a vast land that you cannot fight on," he said. and his forces were on the attack again in rebel-held misrata with tank and sniper fire reportedly killing two. meanwhile, images of the dead and wounded, identified as casualties from the air strikes, appeared throughout

we want to go now to nbc's jim maceda in tripoli. jim, good evening. >> reporter: hi there, brian. well, that 10-0 vote in favor of a no-fly zone over libya will give the u.n. some muscle behind its words, even as the gadhafi regime seems determined to prove that any resolution is too late to be put into effect. forces loyal to moammar gadhafi believing they're on the verge of victory. today they surrounded ajdabiya, only 90 miles from benghazi, the rebel stronghold and ultimate prize. this was the rebels' last line of defense and they have been no match for gadhafi's army, navy or air force, all on the ascending. >> now it is libya. but tomorrow, egypt, tunisia. >> reporter: an extraordinary comeback for the libyan dictator, who just two weeks ago looked like a spent force. tonight gadhafi warned the people of benghazi that he'd strike hard within hours. a steady counterattack that began here about 300 miles east of tripoli and pushed the rebels back, retaking key oil ports like ras lanuf and brega, gaining momentum by the day. in benghazi today, the rebel capital was empty and te

jim maceda, nbc news, tripoli. >>> elsewhere in the region, the city of dara in southern syria was again a flash point today, president assad's security forces trying to crush the latest democracy up risings. in yemen, the opposition took to the streets as well. yemen's president has now pulled back on his offer to step down by the end of the year. meantime, more than 100 people who were looting an ammo factory in yemen reportedly are dead after something, perhaps a cigarette, touched off an explosion. now we turn to japan. it's some measure of how big it is when you consider the following. trace amounts of radiation have now been detected in the air and in the rainwater as far east in this country as pittsburgh and the state of massachusetts. the amount is minute, neglible and health officials have assured the public there's zero danger. but as to the source of it in japan, radiation is now in the soil, the air and the water, as the struggle continues to contain it, to stop it and to get several crippled reactors under control. nbc's lee cowan standing by in tokyo tonight. lee, good eve

nbc's jim maceda is live in tripoli to tell us more. : yes, hi, lester. well, let's start with the gadhafi reaction. he actually sent two urgent messages according to government press spokesman here. one to president obama and the other one to the united nations and the leaders of france and great britain. he said that there was no validity at all in the u.n. resolution, that the u.n. had no rights to send -- to launch a military intervention in any country in the world. that it's a racist act, that it's a sign of blatant colonialism and would be significant and serious consequences in the mediterranean and europe and specifically targeting france's leader and britain's leader saying you will regret your actions. now, the situation is, indeed, fast moving in benghazi. right now, we are learning that the defenses that had been set up by rebels on the southwestern outskirts of the city, the approaches to the city have fallen. that the pro-gadhafi forces have swung from the southwest into the southeastern outskirts of the city, still a coup

i'm jim maceda, northbound news reporting from tripoli.w back to you. >>> now here's a look at other stories making news early today in america. in tennessee, it was a one-two combination of mother nature's worst. a severe storm system formed high winds and heavy rain causing flash flooding and destruction of homes. in one area, officials believe tornados ripped through, but the national weather service has not been able to confirm. in north carolina, an explosion of glass and metal was caught on a tape when a bus crashed into a boutique. the driver crossed through oncoming traffic and drove through a garden of shrubery. the driver has no memory of the accident. finally, in iowa a stretch of highway offered drivers a spectacular show of wildlife. dozens of bald eagles could be seen perched on a tree and then tree in the small wildlife areas. some motorists pulled over to snap photos while others marvelled at the rare sighting that made a few of them come too a screeching halt. >>> now for a look at your national and regional weather, here

i'm jim maceda reporting fromç tripoli.ck to you. >>> back here at home, secretary of state hillary clinton told lawmakers yesterday that the obama administration will look into allegations moammar gadhafi is personally responsible for ordering the bombing of pan am flight 193 in lockerbie, scotland, killing 270 people. tracie potts joins us with more on that from washington. tracie, good morning. >> reporter: lynn, good morning. here's the very latest. qadhafi was on state tv this morning after a fierce gun battle between government forces and rebels retaking one city in libya. also this morning u.s. warships are in the suez canal now headed towards the mediterranean on stand-by. secretary of state hillary clinton is saying that the government, the u.s. government, may consider prosecuting qadhafi for ordering the lockerbie bombing. she says that the administration could seek justice. victims have been asking the obama administration to reopen that investigation. ex official that is have recently left the libyan government

we want to start with jim maceda. >> reporter: lester, what unfolded in libya today was implausible days ago. it has left the regime stunned, but defiant. late this afternoon a squad of fighter jets took off destination benghazi, libya. the military intervention had begun. later the u.s. fired 110 cruise missiles as well, hitting 120 air defense systems. earlier in the day they punched through anti-gadhafi rebel defenses. intense fighting killing many civilians. the violence too much for many who fled in their cars heading east to the egyptian border, their hopes of getting military help crushed. >> we are disappointed that everybody left us, we are left alone with this killer. >> at one point an old fighter plane was seen falling from the sky and crashing. the cause still unclear. back in tripoli the government said it was abiding by a cease fire it declared on friday. pro gadhafi attacks on rebel held towns, reportedly shot after the cease-fire were lies fabricated by the rebels. >> we have no bombardment of any kind after the cease-fire was declared by us. once over benghazi those fre

jim maceda joins us from tripoli. what's the scene like? >> reporter: good morning, lester.as those military -- missiles and stealth bombs have actually hurt the libyan dictator, he's made it clear that he's going nowhere. u.s. cruise missiles fire towards libya's mediterranean coast and operation odyssey dawn was under way. the targets moammar gadhafi's air defense. so fisticate the missiles and radar systems that could knock out nato planes enforcing a no-fly zone over libya. according to the pentagon, at least 20 such sites were hit in the first wave of attacks, many near the capital of tripoli. where tracer and anti-aircraft fire sprayed the night sky defending against the sounds of planes and explosions. by daylight, tripoli was calm, but libya tv showed images of some of the 48 dead and at least 150 wounded casualties it said from the air strikes. there were civilians in the area, civilians were injured, said this wounded man. today u.s. and coalition flishls assess the damage done gadhafi's air defenses. as french, british, canadian, and eventually arab fighter jets p

jim maceda is in tripoli for us. jim, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, meredith. as colonel gadhafi likes to remind us, lib qula is not tunisia or egypt. both sides are armed to the teeth and digging in. this could be a bloodbath. the youtube video is grainy but it captures history. rebels in the government-controlled town of, rebels seen here tearing down a symbol of moammar gadhafi's rules, a monument to his green book of political teachings. le the message was unmistakable. life is unbearable for us, and it's time to get rid of gadhafi, said this rebel. but voices loyal to the leader are gearing up for battle. thousands of soldiers and militia men have virtually sealed off tripoli, now gadhafi's only stronghold. opposition holds two key towns, repelling attacks east of tripoli and in zawiya, 30 miles away where overnight a second attempt by gadhafi forces to overtake the town had failed. gadhafi seemed unfazed, often laughing in an interview he said he can't step down. in libya, all the power is with the people. >> they love me, all my people with me. they love

jim maceda has the latest from tripoli. good morning. >>> yes, that's right.who were hit by coalition strikes and did go scrambling yesterday. now there are report that is tanks and snipers entered the city center and fighting has killed at least seven people, according to our latest figures. meanwhile the troops have now changed out of their uniforms and into street clothes, looking very much like civilians. they have even been joined by hundreds of other gadhafi supporters who are acting as human shields. meanwhile, gadhafi himself has not been seen publically here since friday. he has recorded a couple of defiant messages that aired on state tv. he may be hunkered down in a bunker, perhaps not in his tripoli compound which we now know was hit by a cruise missile last night. natalie? >> jim, thank you. >>> this morning as well the four new york times journalists detained in libya were released into the custody of turkish diplomats escorting them out of libya. they were detained by gadhafi's forces. workers were evacuated from the crippled fukushima daiichi p

jim maceda in tripoli this morning. thank you very much. >>> let's get caught up on the rest of the morning's top stories with natalie morales. >> good morning. we begin with breaking news this morning. for the first time in several years, an explosion has rocked central jerusalem this morning. police say a bomb detonated on or next to a city passengers bus. nbc's producer paul goldman joins us by phone from tel aviv with the latest. paul, good morning. what can you tell us? >> reporter: good morning, natalie. police report the blast was caused by an explosion device tied to a telephone pole near a crowd bus station. 25 people were wounded in the incident. four of them in serious condition. the blast took place at 3:00 in the afternoon and most of the injured were onboard bus number 74 en route from jerusalem city center. the city center has been closed off by the police and no organization has taken responsibility for this attack. back to you and natalie. >> all right. paul goldman there reporting from tel aviv for us

jim maceda now has the latest from tripoli. hey, jim, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, ann. the target of this latest bombing is said to be brega's airstrip now in rebel hands, as you say. one could argue that the battle for brega is the first major set piece of libya's civil war, which so far at least the rebels seem to be winning. the anti-gadhafi rebels are sitting on a big prize. brega is the site of libya's second largest oil refinery and natural gas facility. mounting their first counteroffensive in the east, a convoy of pro-gadhafi troops supported by air force bombers, mortars and heavy machine gun fire took the town at dawn yesterday. only to be driven back hours later by a wave of rebels pouring in from the north. gadhafi's forces, a mix of militias and mercenaries, did make some gains. retaking two small towns near the capital of tripoli, now heavily fortified. but the fight for two other strategic towns. only dozens of miles from gadhafi's stronghold. still, the man who's ruled libya for 42 years showed no signs of having his back to the wall. speaking 2 1/2 hour

nbc's jim maceda joins us from tripoli with the latest. good morning. >> reporter: hi, savannah. it's been a day since the u.n. vote and so there there is no sign of any enforcement. no air strikes on libyan positions or a push by gadhafi forces into the rebel cabtal of benghazi. in tripoli people are worried about the no-fly zone, what it means and they are afraid of air strikes by nato planes. many believe gadhafi is fighting terrorists and don't understand why the world is ganging up on him. meanwhile, in the east it's a different feel. there is joy and jubilation in the streets. people feel even if the u.n. resolution came late it will at least give some protection and a fighting chance against gadhafi's better-armed forces. >> thank you, jim. >>> the japanese nuclear crisis has world markets on edge. for more on this and the outlook for today we go to mandy drury at the new york stock exchange. >> that's right. to calm nervousness in the markets, japanese authorities kicked off joint action overnight with other global central banks to try to prevent the japanese yen from ris

jim maceda joins us from tripoli. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, ann. well, the diplomatic front is heating up in brussels today with a big debate over the no-fly zone which rebels call a game changer but many others an open invitation to a third u.s.-led war. pounded by bombs and rockets from the air, anti-gadhafi rebels have been sitting ducks on this exposed desert road. they say they need one thing -- a no-fly zone to take away gadhafi's deadly advantage. is a no-fly zone effective or feasible? it will be debated today in brussels today. britain and france are pushing hard while the obama administration is movinging with caution. >> let's just call a spade a spade. a no-fly zone begins with an attack on libya to destroy the air defenses. that's the way you do a no-fly zone. >> reporter: who would the zone protect? the rebels are a rag tag army of a thousand fighters with old weapons and often no military experience while gadhafi's better trained and equipped ground forces number ten times that. he could still win, even with a no-fly zone. gadhafi wa

nbc's jim maceda is in tripoli. good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, matt. there are fresh reports today of intense fighting in the east with an oil installation changing hands by the hour. that could be the sign of a long protracted conflict. the uprising in tripoli has gone to ground. there have been no protests here for days, not since security forces dispersed a crowd of several hundred with live fire. increasingly, security experts say, it will be on the battlefield where any break in the standoff will come. in the rebel camps, spirits remain high in zawiya after opposition forces who had taken the town over the weekend managed to hold it despite a pro gadhafi counter attack. >> we feel we are in a good situation. we are ready to attack gadhafi in tripoli. >> reporter: but tripoli is a fortress ringed by several tanks and artillery and at least a dozen fortified checkpoints. today there were signs gadhafi was mount inging a long awaited defensive. reports of gains in the rebel-held east. at least one oil installation was recaptured and libyan bombs were