LIBYA: Libyan rebel fighter who yearned to be a martyr is laid to rest in Benghazi
Record ID:
861167
LIBYA: Libyan rebel fighter who yearned to be a martyr is laid to rest in Benghazi
- Title: LIBYA: Libyan rebel fighter who yearned to be a martyr is laid to rest in Benghazi
- Date: 24th May 2011
- Summary: BENGHAZI, LIBYA (MAY 23, 2011) (REUTERS) FUNERAL PROCESSION FOR REBEL, AHMED LAGHA, KILLED IN CLASHES WITH GADDAFI FORCES NORTH OF AJDABIYA PICTURE OF DEAD REBEL CASKET WRAPPED IN REBEL FLAG BEING CARRIED TO THE GRAVE REBEL FLAG REMOVED AHEAD OF LOWERING DEAD MAN IN GRAVE VARIOUS OF BURIAL FIRE IN HONOUR OF DEAD FIGHTER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) YOUNIS ALMUGHAIDI, FIGHTER IN SAME BRIGADE AS KILLED FIGHTER, SAYING: "He is lucky to be a martyr, everyone wishes to be a martyr and he had asked to die a martyr three days before he was killed. For three days he was asking to be a martyr and he died a hero. He was loading the shells and saying 'God is great,' he was killed while he was saying 'God is great." FATHER AT FUNERAL CRYING VARIOUS OF PRAYER AFTER BURIAL
- Embargoed: 8th June 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Libya
- City:
- Country: Libya
- Topics: War / Fighting
- Reuters ID: LVA6AU7Y6R7MRL9V1P39TSRBZCIB
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: 21-year-old Ahmed Lagha, was buried on Monday (May 23) at a cemetery in Libya's rebel-held city of Benghazi.
The rebel fighter's casket was wrapped with a rebel flag which was removed as the dead body was lowered into the grave.
Lagha was killed by a mortar shell on Sunday morning during fighting with Gaddafi forces at the frontline, halfway between Ajdabiya and the strategic oil-port of Brega.
A comrade said the dead fighter had spoken often of his desire to be killed in battle.
"He is lucky to be a martyr, everyone wishes to be a martyr and he had asked to die a martyr three days before he was killed. For three days he was asking to be a martyr and he died a hero, hew was loading the shells and saying 'God is great,' he was killed while he was saying 'God is great'," Younis AlMughaidi, told Reuters.
Three months into an uprising against Gaddafi's four-decade rule, rebels control the east and pockets in the west including Misrata. The conflict has reached a stalemate as rebel attempts to advance on Tripoli have stalled. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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