Libya's antigovernment protests escalate on 'day of rage' against Muammar Qaddafi

[Turborama]

Source: CSM

Libya's leader Col. Muammar Qaddafi tried to appease protesters after fierce clashes Wednesday, but unrest continued today in a proclaimed 'day of rage.' Protests have now reached four cities.

By Nissa Rhee, Correspondent / February 17, 2011

Protesters in Libya took to the streets for “day of rage” on Thursday, a day after fierce clashes between Libyan security forces and demonstrators. The protests demanding the end of leade

Col. Muammar Qaddafi’s 41-year-reign are the most recent in a wave of regional uprisings inspired by Tunisia and Egypt's successful deposing of their longtime presidents.

The Associated Press reports that there were protests in four cities today, including the eastern port of Benghazi, the country’s second-largest city and a cradle of the country's opposition, where at least 14 died and many more were arrested during violent clashes Wednesday.

Qaddafi took power in 1969 through a military coup and has ruled since then without a constitution or elected parliament. In a bid to quell the rare unrest, Qaddafi on Wednesday offered to release 110 suspected Islamic militants and double civil servants’ salaries, the AP reported. The dictator’s proposal mirrors those made by other Arab regimes that faced protests in recent weeks.

Read more: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2011/0217/Libya-s-antigovernment-protests-escalate-on-day-of-rage-against-Muammar-Qaddafi

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Raw videos of some of the protests in this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x554439

[Turborama]

1. BREAKING: security belonging to the sons of #gaddafi in baida (where they live) have opened fire

@ShababLibya
LibyanYouthMovement
BREAKING: security belonging to the sons of #gaddafi in baida (where they live) have opened fire injuring 100s &killing 3, #Libya #Feb17

[Turborama]

2. Reuters: Clashes break out on Libya's day of protest

TRIPOLI | Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:29pm EST

(Reuters) - Clashes broke out in several towns in Libya on Thursday after the opposition called for a day of protests, reports and a witness said, while supporters of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi rallied in the capital.

Gaddafi opponents, communicating anonymously online or working in exile, had urged people to protest on Thursday to try to emulate popular uprisings which unseated long-serving rulers in neighboring Tunisia and Egypt.

In the capital of the oil exporting country there was no sign of any demonstrations, a Reuters reporter said, apart from the pro-Gaddafi demonstrators in the city's Green Square chanting "We are defending Gaddafi!" and waving his portrait.

A resident of the eastern town of Al Bayda told Reuters 15 people were hurt in a confrontation between government supporters and relatives of two men killed during a protest a day earlier. Fighting broke out soon after the two were buried.

Continues: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/17/us-libya-protests-idUSTRE71G0A620110217?WT.tsrc=Social%20Media&WT.z_smid=twtr-reuters_%20com&WT.z_smid_dest=Twitter