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Now the Libyans are rioting...

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  • Now the Libyans are rioting...



    Originally posted by MSNBC
    Gadhafi's Libya faces its 1st Egypt-style protests


    msnbc.com staff and news service reports

    updated 52 minutes ago

    Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of
    Libya Wednesday in the first sign that the
    unrest which toppled governments in
    neighboring Tunisia and Egypt has spread to
    the North African nation.

    Witnesses said protesters in the eastern port
    city of Benghazi chanted slogans demanding
    the resignation of Prime Minister Baghdadi al-
    Mahmoudi.

    The Associated Press said that the crowds did
    not appear to direct their anger at Moammar
    Gadhafi, who is Africa's longest-serving
    leader. He has ruled for 41 years.

    However, Dubai-based television news service
    Al-Jazeera reported that sources said the
    demonstrators chanted slogans against the
    "corrupt rulers of the country."

    Al-Jazeera said the protesters had called on
    citizens to observe Thursday as a "Day of
    Rage," hoping to emulate the popular uprisings
    in Egypt and Tunisia and end Gadhafi's regime.

    As in the previous uprisings, Libyan activists
    were using social networking websites
    including Facebook.

    Rioting is unusual in oil exporter Libya, where
    Gadhafi keeps a tight grip on political life.

    Libya's official news agency did not carry any
    word of Wednesday's anti-government
    protests.

    It reported only that supporters of Gadhafi
    were holding pro-government demonstrations
    in Tripoli, Benghazi and other cities.

    However, the online edition of Libya's
    privately-owned Quryna newspaper, which is
    based in Benghazi, said the crowd were armed
    with Molotov cocktails and threw stones.

    'A bad night'
    It said they protested outside a local
    government office to demand the release of
    the human rights activist, and then went to the city's Shajara
    square where they clashed with police and
    government supporters.

    The paper that government supporters had
    taken over the square. Fourteen people were
    injured including 10 police officers, but none
    of the injuries were serious, the newspaper
    added.

    A Benghazi resident contacted by Reuters said
    the people involved in the clashes were
    relatives of inmates in Tripoli's Abu Salim jail,
    where militant Islamists and government
    opponents have traditionally been held.

    Some were relatives of inmates killed at the
    prison in June 1996, when more than 1,000
    prisoners were shot dead.

    "Last night was a bad night," said the witness,
    who did not want to be identified.

    "There were about 500 or 600 people
    involved. They went to the revolutionary
    committee (local government headquarters) in S
    abri district, and they tried to go to the
    central revolutionary committee ... They threw
    stones," he said. "It is calm now."

    Following the rioting, a local human rights
    activist, Mohamed Ternish, told Reuters that
    the government was to release 110 prisoners
    jailed for membership of the banned Libyan
    Islamic Fighting Group.

    The prisoners are the last members of the
    group still being held, he added.

    On Monday, several opposition groups in exile
    called for the overthrow of Gadhafi and for a
    peaceful transition of power in Libya.

    "Col. Gadhafi and all his family members
    should relinquish powers," the groups said in
    a statement.

    Idris Al-Mesmari, a Libyan novelist, told Al-
    Jazeera by telephone that security officials
    dressed as civilians used tear gas, batons and
    hot water to disperse the protesters.

    The news service added there were
    unconfirmed reports that Al-Mesmari was a
    rrested hours after the interview.

    An Egyptian blogger, Mohammed Maree, told
    Al-Jazeera that Gadhafi's government
    "continues to treat the Libyan people with lead
    and fire."

    "This is why we announce our solidarity with
    the Libyan people and the families of the
    martyrs until the criminals are punished,
    starting with Moammar and his family."

    Gadhafi came to power 1969 through a
    military coup and since then he has been
    advertisement
    ruling the country with no parliament or
    constitution.

    Although Gadhafi claims he is only a
    revolutionary leader with no official status, he
    holds absolute power.

    The opposition groups say that in practice he
    has direct control of the country's politics and
    its military and security forces.

    Most analysts say Libya is unlikely to see an
    uprising along the lines of Tunisia or Egypt.

    The government has huge amounts of oil
    cash which it can use to placate unhappy
    citizens.

    Libyan society and public life is built around
    family and tribal ties, so if there is any
    challenge to Gadhafi's rule, it is likely to
    happen behind the scenes and not in the
    streets.

    The crucial test for Gadhafi now is whether the
    unrest spreads beyond Benghazi to the capital
    and the west of the country.

    People in Benghazi have a history of
    antagonism with Gadhafi. Many of them did
    not support him when he came to power in a
    military coup in 1969, and since then the
    region has been cut out of much of the
    largesse handed out by the government from
    oil revenues, deepening the resentment.

    When dozens of prisoners accused of
    membership of a banned Islamist militant
    group were released last year from Abu Salim,
    most of them headed east to Benghazi, where
    their families live.
    Msnbc.com staff, Reuters and The Associated Press
    contributed to this report.
    ZOMBIE REAGAN FOR PRESIDENT 2016!!! heh

  • #2
    Ya, I'm thinking I'm about to get on up outta hurra.

    Comment


    • #3
      Man, between all the unrest in the middle east and President Dickhead not let us drill here, oil will be $200 a barrel in no time.

      Comment


      • #4
        ...said the people involved in the clashes were
        relatives of inmates in Tripoli's Abu Salim jail,
        where militant Islamists... have traditionally been held.


        and

        ...a local human rights activist, Mohamed Ternish, told Reuters that
        the government was to release 110 prisoners jailed for membership of the banned Libyan Islamic Fighting Group.

        Comment


        • #5
          "RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE!!" - The Libyans.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by Vertnut View Post
            Man, between all the unrest in the middle east and President Dickhead not let us drill here, oil will be $200 a barrel in no time.
            That's exactly what he and his Green pals want.
            How do we forget ourselves? How do we forget our minds?

            Comment


            • #7
              Just heard (unverified) the Mopar Karate was just shot to death. Wonder if it's true.

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by Denny View Post
                Just heard (unverified) the Mopar Karate was just shot to death. Wonder if it's true.
                First they killed the Viper, now this...
                Originally posted by racrguy
                What's your beef with NPR, because their listeners are typically more informed than others?
                Originally posted by racrguy
                Voting is a constitutional right, overthrowing the government isn't.

                Comment


                • #9
                  I love how Facebook is at the root of all of these riots. lol
                  www.dfwdirtriders.com

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    I just had to...

                    First hand witness at the failure of public healthcare.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Embedding disabled by request. Wonder what that means?

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        No bttf jokes, no care.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by StanleyTweedle View Post
                          "RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE!!" - The Libyans.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by StanleyTweedle View Post
                            Embedding disabled by request. Wonder what that means?
                            It means "Run for it, Marty!"
                            Originally posted by Broncojohnny
                            HOORAY ME and FUCK YOU!

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by sig239 View Post
                              Yeah that's what they're doing right now.

                              Comment

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