At Least One Dead, 14 Wounded in Libyan Unrest, Reports Say

[Joanne98]

Source: NYT

PARIS — The protests sweeping the Middle East reached Libya on Wednesday, with demonstrations against its leader, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, reported in several cities.

At least 14 people were injured and one killed, the Human Rights Watch advocacy group said on Thursday as Col. Qaddafi’s adversaries prepared for what they have billed on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook as a “Day of Rage” modeled on the uprisings from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf. At least 14 people were arrested.

The Associated Press quoted a Web site opposing Col. Qaddafi as saying four protesters in the city of Al Beyda were killed by government forces. It was not clear when the reported killings happened.

In Benghazi, Libya’s second-largest city, a crowd armed with gasoline bombs and rocks protested outside a government office to demand the release of a human rights advocate, Reuters and other news agencies reported. The demonstrators, estimated at several hundred to several thousand, marched to the city’s central square, where they clashed with riot police officers on Tuesday and Wednesday.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/18/world/africa/18libya.html

[Turborama]

1. AP Via WaPo: Reports that at least 14 anti-government protesters killed in Libyan clash

By SALAH NASRAWI
The Associated Press

Thursday, February 17, 2011; 6:29 AM

CAIRO -- Libyan protesters seeking to oust longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi defied a crackdown and took to the streets in four cities Thursday on what activists have dubbed a "day of rage," amid reports that at least 14 demonstrators have been killed in clashes with pro-government forces.

New York-based Human Rights Watch said Libyan internal security forces also have arrested at least 14 people. Hundreds of pro-government demonstrators also rallied in the capital, Tripoli, blocking traffic in some areas, witnesses said.

An opposition website and an anti-Gadhafi activist said unrest broke out during marches in four Libyan cities Thursday. Organizers were using social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to call for nationwide demonstrations.

"Today the Libyans broke the barrier or fear, it is a new dawn," said Faiz Jibril, an opposition leader in exile.

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/17/AR2011021701571.html

[EFerrari]

2. This is so bizarre. The gov sent an SMS message

threatening protesters with live round AND there is a report that some security forces are siding with the protesters.


EnoughGaddafi Enough Gaddafi
by arabist
SMS sent to Libyans threatening them with live amunition if they demonstrate confirmed #feb17 #libya
39 minutes ago

EnoughGaddafi Enough Gaddafi
by arabist
Confirmed from leaked correspondence, some security officers refuse 2 fight protestoers & support change Regime. #feb17 #libya
20 minutes ago

[leftynyc]

3. The reality is that

whoever the military supports wins. If the military sides with the protesters, you get Egypt. If they side with the dictators, you get Tiennamen Square.

[EFerrari]

4. It's faceted, though.

In Egypt, the guys in tanks were sharing food with protesters while the military police was brutalizing detainees. In 2002, some part of the Venezuelan army kidnapped Chavez during the coup and some other part rescued him and took him back to Miraflores. And in Bahrain, there are reports that the Saudi army is there shooting at people.

[leftynyc]

5. As I understood it

The police are entirely separate as a force than the military in Egypt. I mainstain that without the military support (even if that just meant they wouldn't fire on their citizens), Mubarak would still be in power.

I hadn't heard about the Saudi army in Bahrain. Does Bahrain not have its own military? I don't find it surprising that the Saudi's don't want this kind of thing to spread to other monarchies (although I think they are a special case due to Mecca and Medina).

[EFerrari]

6. The police are a separate force and they also abused detainees.

But there are numerous reports that the army itself as well as the military police abused and tortured prisoners. And yes, the military threw Mubarak overboard.

As far as Bahrain, both the Saudis and Jordan seem to have some number of troops there right now.

[leftynyc]

7. The monarchies are nervous

and I can't blame them. What's your feeling on this? Also Iran. And can someone please tell me where the fuck is the UN on this. The entire Middle East is changing, people are getting murdered in the streets for wanting freedom and th UN is invisible. Totally useless.

[EFerrari]

8. This is a nightmare for members of the Security Council

because they all have, to some degree, supported the repressive regimes that are now being challenged, haven't they?

[leftynyc]

9. Sure is a nightmare

and I have zero sympathy for them. They got into bed with some of these regimes (as we have but we're not the UN) and now everyone is seeing how useless and hypocritical they are. Zero sympathy.

[Uncle Joe]

10. Kicked and recommended for democracy in Libya.

Thanks for the thread, Joanne.

[Robbien]

11. Qaddafi is said to threaten to fire workers who do not go out and counter-march in Favor of Qaddafi

One just has to admire the protesters going out in face of the enormous levels of organized governmental roadblocks.

a good report of what is going on:

WikiLeaks Cables: Repression Has Effectively Limited Libyans' Vision for Reform
http://www.opednews.com/articles/WikiLeaks-Cables-Repressi-by-Kevin-Gosztola-110217-487.html