- Title: LIBYA: Thousands of anti-Gaddafi protesters in Benghazi
- Date: 5th March 2011
- Summary: BENGHAZI, LIBYA: (MARCH 4, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF LIBYANS ATTENDING FRIDAY PRAYERS NEAR COURTS COMPLEX UNDER RAINY SKIES VARIOUS OF LIBYANS PRAYING WIDE OF LIBYANS PRAYING TWO ANTI-GOVERNMENT REBELS CHANTING SLOGANS ANTI-GOVERNMENT REBELS CHANTING SLOGANS WOMEN CHANTING REBELS HOLDING MONARCHY-ERA LIBYAN FLAG MONARCHY-ERA LIBYAN FLAG HANGING FROM BUILDING REBELS FILMING PROTEST ON MOBILE PHONES MAN WHIPPING UP CHANT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LIBYAN REBEL, MEFTAH SWEEDI, SAYING "I would like to say that we need support from all of the world. We want to get our rights; we want freedom and social justice." LIBYAN REBELS CHANTING ANTI-GADDAFI SLOGANS
- Embargoed: 20th March 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Libya
- Country: Libya
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAB3LK17TALXJVGS7Z85E67SGAW
- Story Text: Thousands of anti-government protesters in the eastern rebel-held city of Benghazi chanted anti-government slogans after attending Friday prayers (March 4).
They gathered to demonstrate after Friday prayers under cloudy skies.
Protester Meftah Sweedi appealed for international support.
"We need support from all of the world. We want to get our rights; we want freedom and social justice," he said.
Another protester, Abdel Rahamn Jeroshy, said the demonstrators had sent a clear message to Gaddafi, which was:
"More than a hundred thousand protesters gathered under the rain in this narrow square, calling for the resignation of the current regime."
The rebel National Libyan Council has called for U.N.-backed air strikes against what they say are African mercenaries fighting for Gaddafi.
Libyan warplanes raided eastern towns on Thursday (March 3) after launching a ground assault on Brega on Wednesday (March 2) that rebels repulsed.
The uprising, the bloodiest yet against despotic rulers in the region, was sparked by the arrest of a human rights lawyer in Benghazi on Feb. 14.
Revolt quickly spread, with Libyans from all walks of life -- professionals, academics, tribesmen, former soldiers and students -- demanding an end to Gaddafi's repressive rule.
Gaddafi, in power for 41 years since he ousted King Idris, has managed to cling to power through a carefully constructed security apparatus.
But the years of repression have brought simmering discontent to the boil.
Gaddafi and his sons could be held responsible for crimes committed by their troops in Benghazi and elsewhere, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the International Criminal Court prosecutor who is investigating attacks that have taken place since Feb. 15 has said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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