'End of US-backed dictators near'
Deputy Head of the Majlis Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy Esmail Kowsari
A top Iranian lawmaker has censured US “double standards” regarding Libyan crackdown on pro-democracy protests, saying the era of US-sponsored dictators is drawing to a close.
“The US puppet dictators should know that time for them is over. They should meet public demands and choose either the US or the nation,” said Deputy Head of the Majlis (parliament) Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy Esmail Kowsari, quoted by Fars News Agency on Thursday.
He added that the Libyan people have been demanding an end to the US involvement in their fate in stronger terms than the call for collapse of Muammar Gaddafi.
The senior legislator deplored the silence of “Gaddafi's supporters” on the brutal crackdown on Libyan protesters and said, “Dictators consider all possible options to protect their power but Gaddafi, in a savage move, used his fighter jets to repress popular protests.”
Kowsari emphasized that the Islamic Republic has always opposed moves by the Libyan ruler, who he described as a “mad tyrant,” and stressed that the Majlis, the government and the Iranian nation would spare no efforts to help the North African nation.
His comments come as Libya's pro-democracy protesters entered the tenth day of revolution against Gaddafi on Thursday.
Militiamen loyal to Gaddafi clamped down on civilians in the Libyan capital of Tripoli in an attempt to keep the capital under control.
As many as 1,000 Libyans have so far been killed by the Libyan forces under Gaddafi's command.
A total of 130 Libyan soldiers have been executed for refusing to open fire on anti-Gaddafi protesters.
Gaddafi, who came to power 42 years ago in a bloodless military coup, delivered a televised address on Tuesday in which he vowed to fight on to his "last drop of blood" and called on his supporters to take to the streets to confront the pro-democracy demonstrators.
He also declared that he has no intention of relinquishing power and referred to the protesters as "rats and cockroaches."
SF/GHN/AKM/MB
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