EGYPT: Libyan delegation to Arab League changes its flag in solidarity with an anti-government uprising

Record ID: 736853

  • Title: EGYPT: Libyan delegation to Arab League changes its flag in solidarity with an anti-government uprising
  • Date: 26th February 2011
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (FEBRUARY 25, 2011) (REUTERS) MEMBERS OF LIBYAN ARAB LEAGUE DELEGATION LOWERING GADDAFI ERA FLAG AND CHANTING -- 'LIBYA! LIBYA!' EXTERIOR OF LIBYAN DELEGATION BUILDING, WITH DISCARDED LIBYAN FLAG ON TABLE OUTSIDE INDEPENDENCE ERA LIBYAN FLAG BEING RAISED AND STAFF CHEERING FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (English) MEMBER OF LIBYAN ARAB LEAGUE STAFF, AHMED NASOUF, SAYIN
  • Embargoed: 13th March 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt, Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACCH779ZYJVVCQIKMD4CAGWTWL
  • Story Text: The Libyan delegation to the Arab League in Cairo renounced links to Muammar Gaddafi and lowered the Libyan flag on Friday (February 25), saying it now represented the will of the people.
    Several Libyan diplomats and politicians have resigned their posts or voiced their opposition to the violent crackdown on anti-government protesters in their country. The Arab League has suspended Libyan participation in its meetings.
    The green flag introduced by premier Muammar Gaddafi was lowered on Friday at the delegation's headquarters in Cairo's Dokki neighbourhood. It was quickly replaced by the red, black, and green flag Libya used before Gaddafi came to power, favoured by the anti-government opposition.
    The Libyan delegation said they supported the Libyan people's demands for democratic change and condemned the 'crimes' committed against the people.
    The deputy director of protocol Ahmed Nassouf said the delegation had changed its name to "the representative of Libyan people to the Arab League."
    "We have to stop this massacre that happened in Libya. Gaddafi must go out of Libya," Nassouf said.
    Another staff member, Wissam Selim, said it was time for Gaddafi to step down.
    "The Libyan people are free and Gaddafi has no business in Libya at all. Forty years of corruption and oppression and the absence of freedom and democracy are enough," Wissam Selim said.
    The delegation on Friday called upon the Arab League and the United Nations' Security Council to take all actions that would prevent further bloodshed.
    Earlier in the week, the Arab League suspended the Libyan delegation's participation in the body.
    The head of Libya's Arab League delegation, Ambassador Abdel Moneim Huni, had also said he has broken ranks with Gaddafi in response to mounting criticism of violence against anti-government protesters in Libya.
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