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From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Sun Feb 20 2011 - 18:58:16 EST
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8337458/Libyan-protests-reach-Tripoli-as-Gaddafi-son-warns-of-civil-war.html
Libyan
protests reach Tripoli as Gaddafi son warns of civil war Demonstrators
opposed to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi took over large parts of Libya’s second
city and were reported to be fighting in the capital Tripoli
By Richard Spencer, and Nabila Ramdani in Cairo 11:51PM GMT 20 Feb 2011
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, Col Muammar Gaddafi's second son and heir apparent,
last night warned of “rivers of blood” and said Libya was on the brink of a
civil war that would burn its oil wealth.
In a televised statement he acknowledged the army made mistakes during the
protests, but denied reports that “hundreds” were killed in the violence.
He added that his father, who has only briefly appeared on state television
in a pro-government rally, remained in the coutnry and was backed by he
army.
He offered to put forward reforms within days that he described as a
“historic national initiative”. He said the regime was willing to remove
some restrictions and discuss the constitution.
Hundreds of people died over the weekend as forces loyal to Gaddafi, who has
ruled for 42 years, used high-velocity sniper rifles, machine guns and even
anti-aircraft artillery against protesters.
Estimates of the dead varied widely, from 173 by Human Rights Watch, to more
than 300.
“Benghazi is a war zone — the situation is very tense,” said a highly placed
source in Tripoli. “Troops including mercenaries are being sent there by
plane. The fighting is intensifying.
“Lots of people are being killed, including members of the security forces.
The figures are certainly above 200, with many thousands more injured.”
Benghazi is 600 miles east of Tripoli, and has always been more hostile to
Col Gaddafi than other parts of the country.
But last night it was reported that anti-government rallies had broke out in
the Libyan capital Tripoli for the first time.
Al-Jazeera television news reported clashes in Tripoli’s Green Square
between protesters and Gaddafi supporters. Witnesses claimed tear gas and
live ammunition were used against the protesters.
Fighting has also broken out in the eastern cities of Al-Bayda, Ajdabiya,
Darnah, and Tobruk. In Darnah, a group of Islamists seized an arms depot,
and were holding civilians and soldiers hostage.
The breakdown of the regime’s authority in Benghazi, where the armed forces
were reported to have retreated to a command centre and to be firing
indiscriminately, was clear from videos posted on the internet.
One showed a body in blue police fatigues being carried by demonstrators,
who can be heard discussing whether he was one of the “African mercenaries”
said to have been recruited by Gaddafi.
A regional medical coordinator told The Daily Telegraph that bodies were
piling up in hospitals. “Tanks and helicopter gunships full of foreign
mercenaries are fighting gangs of demonstrators,” he said.” A Libyan
journalist claimed that a group of women and children jumped to their deaths
from a bridge in Benghazi to escape the mercenaries. “They’re vicious.
People are so terrified that they’ve been doing everything possible to get
away,” he said.”
Libya’s permanent representative to the Arab League, Abdel Moneim al-Honi,
announced he was quitting, saying: “I am joining the ranks of the
revolution.”
Many of the 3,500 British people living in Libya are preparing to leave. The
Foreign Office said 50 in the east were being helped to find “a place of
safety”.
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