Tunesia, Egyt and now Yemen: a domino effect in the Middle East?

The army in Libya is defecting, and supporting the pro-democracy movement. It's only a matter of time.

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I wouldn't mind arguing the point that that word is meant as a slap against masculinity...in league with mild, subtle comments made about her...in response.

Only big-girl's blouses bother about slaps. The rest of think they are goadings.

The good things in our lives are spoiled by knowing how they were obtained.

The real logic is the fact in the capital city, the army is shooting at demonstrators.

"Libyan society is shaped by tribal culture. Many people are primarily loyal to their own tribe and not to the state," Ziad Aql, a Libya expert at the Cairo-based Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, told Deutsche Welle's Arabic service.

"There's a clear split within the Libyan army," Aql said. He pointed out that the army is largely headed by members of President Gadhafi's tribe with Gadhafi's son, Mutassem Gadhafi, responsible for the country's internal security. On the other hand, he added, many foot soldiers belong to the Tarruna tribe which has taken the side of the demonstrators.

"So there are two camps in the army - one that follows Gadhafi's commands and shoots at demonstrators. And another camp that refuses to follow his instructions and either flees with their weapons or joins the demonstrators," Aql said.

Aql warned there was a danger that the simmering tensions among the various factions within the army could come to a head.

"There are indications that parts of the army that belong to Gadhafi's tribe will remain loyal to him. That has sparked concern that we could see violent battles within the army," Aql said.

There are concerns that the unrest in Libya could turn into a full-fledged civil war and analysts say that a future without Gadhafi looks ominous. His four decades of one-man rule has left the country without any national institutions - unlike in Egypt where the army has been a pillar of society.

"The Libyan regime lacks institutions in all sectors," Aql said. "Gadhafi rules the country as he likes. And that's how he's controlled the army too."

Some worry that Libya also lacks a civil society framework as is evident in Egypt or leading intellectuals as seen in Tunisia, many of whom have lived in France for decades.

"We can't rule out a civil war if Gadhafi were to go," Steinbach said. "Without any functioning institutions, there will just be a black hole."

military no fly zone in Libya

"We can't rule out a civil war if Gadhafi were to go," Steinbach said. "Without any functioning institutions, there will just be a black hole."