LIBYA: Thousands cram into streets of Benghazi to welcome victorious fighters who are returning from Sirte

Record ID: 375510

  • Title: LIBYA: Thousands cram into streets of Benghazi to welcome victorious fighters who are returning from Sirte
  • Date: 23rd October 2011
  • Summary: BENGHAZI, LIBYA (OCTOBER 22, 2011) (REUTERS) STREET SCENE OF BENGHAZI VEHICLE OF FIGHTERS SURROUNDED BY CELEBRATORS LIBYAN WOMEN ULULATING NTC FIGHTERS CHEERING CHILD WAVES NEW LIBYAN FLAG YOUNG MEN GREET FIGHTERS AS THEY DRIVE PAST MORE OF FIGHTERS CHILD PERCHED ON TOP OF THE SHOULDERS OF CELEBRATORS
  • Embargoed: 7th November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya, Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Conflict,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA8K996Y7DGWC670IITDYVVIEZE
  • Story Text: The streets of Benghazi were awash with scenes of jubilation on Saturday (October 22) as fighters returned to their hometown having overrun the late Muammar Gaddafi's last bastion, Sirte.
    Thousands of Libyan flocked to the streets of the centre to welcome fighters, with women and children waving the new Libyan flag and singing songs.
    Young men rushed to shake hands with fighters as their vehicles drove past, and celebrators played drums in the middle of the streets.
    The surprise capture and killing of Gaddafi in his hometown of Sirte sparked joy across the country - and renewed jockeying for postwar influence.
    But NTC fighter, Ahmed al-Showehdi said he hoped everyone would return to their normal jobs in order to push the country forward.
    "We are going to collect all of these weapons from the hands of those guys, we all have agreed on this. God willing, we are looking forward to a good country. I hope that everyone resumes their work again to archive their goals. The country all in all will be good, because there nothing can push us backwards again. We are going forward," he said.
    Most locals were occupied with celebrating their victory.
    "We are so happy for the victory we obtained, we got rid of the tyrant and God is the greatest," said one local resident.
    Libya's interim prime minister said he was resigning on Saturday and urged new leaders to seize a "very limited opportunity" and resolve rivalries now surfacing after Muammar Gaddafi's death.
    With regional differences emerging about what to do with Gaddafi's still unburied body, the formal end to the war and the carve-up of power, Libya's outgoing premier said the coming days posed a crucial test of resolve for the new men in power.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Footage contains identifiable children: users must ensure that they comply with local laws and regulations governing the publishing of this material.
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