LIBYA: Western governments committing crimes against humanity says government spokesman

Record ID: 785436

  • Title: LIBYA: Western governments committing crimes against humanity says government spokesman
  • Date: 2nd April 2011
  • Summary: TRIPOLI, LIBYA (APRIL 1, 2011) (REUTERS) WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE OF LIBYAN GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON MUSSA IBRAHIM REPORTERS TAKING NOTES SOUNDBITE (English) LIBYAN GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON MUSSA IBRAHIM SAYING: "What this mad, criminal, immoral prime ministers and presidents of Europe are doing is a crime against humanity. And that is why the leader of the revolution of Libya demanded that they step down if they have any moral centre." REPORTERS TAKING NOTES SOUNDBITE (English) LIBYAN GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON MUSSA IBRAHIM SAYING: "They are asking us to withdraw from our own cities, and open our cities to people who are holding up arms, who are tribal, violent, no unified leadership, Al Qadea links, and no one knows who they are. If this is not mad than I don't know what it is. We will not leave our cities, we will not stop protecting our civilians." JOURNALISTS SOUNDBITE (English) LIBYAN GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON MUSSA IBRAHIM SAYING: "Where is it, in the security council resolution, it says the NATO in any country, can give air cover to the armed rebels to advance 600 kilometres. If our army advances one kilometre it is a disaster, it is wrong, it is a crime, all world come to defend the Libyan nation against its own army. When the armed rebels advance for 600 kilometres, no one speaks out. No one says, no we can not do that, we must stop both sides." REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 17th April 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: War / Fighting,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAUUA64S1H573P5CEB7XL385OX
  • Story Text: Libya described coalition air strikes against it on Friday (April 1) as a "crime against humanity", saying at least six civilians were killed in an attack on a village in the east of the country.
    "Some mad and criminal prime ministers and presidents of Europe are leading a crusade against an Arab Muslim nation," government spokesman, Mussa Ibrahim, told reporters.
    The Libyan government spokesperson also rejected ceasefire conditions set out by rebel leaders on Friday, saying government troops would not leave Libyan cities as demanded by the opposition.
    "They are asking us to withdraw from our own cities. .... If this is not mad then I don't know what this is. We will not leave out cities," said Ibrahim.
    Libyan Leader Muammar Gaddafi's forces stormed the western rebel outpost of Misrata with tanks and artillery on Friday, a Libyan rebel spokesman said, while insurgents marshalled defences in their eastern heartland.
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