Thousands call for Gaddafi ouster
Libyans carry the bodies of three more victims of the deadly crackdown by pro-Gaddafi forces on February 25, 2011 in Benghazi.
Thousands of people take to the streets in different cities across Libya to call for Gaddafi's resignation, as more and more high-ranking officials are abandoning the regime.
The regime has already lost control of Misarata, Zuara and Zawiya in the west. Opposition protesters are now in control of major centers in the east.
Forces loyal to Gaddafi are reportedly using everything at their disposal to put down the revolution.
There have been reports of the regime using poison gas against demonstrators in Misarata.
Since the beginning of the revolution, Libyans have been reporting that Gaddafi has recruited mercenaries to support his bloody crackdown.
New images and footage have emerged from the country, showing foreign militiamen arrested by the local people in Benghazi and Tobruk.
Experts say with the loyalty of his armed forces proving unreliable, Gaddafi has hired mercenaries from Chad, Niger and Sudan among other African nations.
Reports say the men kill and terrorize the local population and crush dissents.
The country's prosecutor general is reportedly the latest official to resign in protest to the violent crackdown.
Earlier, one of the embattled leader's sons, Seif al-Arab Gaddafi joined forces with protesters in the eastern city of Benghazi. He was sent there by his father to launch a crackdown on protesters in the city.
Libya's justice and interior ministers have also stepped down joining diplomats at embassies around the world.
Ahmed Gaddaf al-Dam -- one of the Libyan ruler's closest aides -- has also resigned.
Meanwhile, protesters against Gaddafi's regime have occupied the Libyan Embassy in Paris.
French police were stationed outside the embassy to prevent anyone else from gaining access.to the compound
Protesters, who call themselves the children of the revolution, took over the embassy after forcing out all embassy employees.
The group hoisted the old Libyan flag pre-dating Gaddafi's 1969 coup d'état over the embassy.
Demonstrators said the ambassador no longer has legitimacy because he refused to support the Libyan people.
The United Nations Human Rights Chief has warned about escalating crackdown in Libya, urging the international community to intervene in support of the protesters.
Navi Pillay said thousands may have been killed or injured so far in Libya as a result of the government's bloody crackdown.
JR/HGH/MMN
No comments:
Post a Comment