Libyans vow to protest despite violence from government
By the CNN Wire Staff
February 20, 2011 -- Updated 1421 GMT (2221 HKT)
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* NEW: African mercenaries Sunday circle security headquarters, witnesses
say
* NEW: Witnesses report food shortages, internet down
* Reported death toll passes 180
* An army official siding with the opposition says the government "caused a
massacre"
(CNN) -- Thousands of mourners, some carrying coffins above their heads,
crowded into the streets of Benghazi, Libya, on Sunday as the protests against
longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi showed no sign of letting up.
The crowds walked as part of a funeral for several people killed in clashes
that began Saturday afternoon between civilians and security forces loyal to
Gadhafi, eye witnesses told CNN.
The protesters said the violent crackdown by security forces since
demonstrations started last week has left them energized.
The reported death toll grew quickly over the weekend, passing 180.
Two medical sources in two hospitals in Benghazi told CNN that 97 people were
killed in the city since Saturday, following clashes between protesters and
security forces. All those confirmed dead were wearing civilian clothing and
are believed to be protesters, the sources said.
Our goal is simple: We want Gadhafi to leave. We want freedom. ... We want
democracy.
--Libyan protester
Medical sources at a Misratah hospital said at least three died and 70 were
wounded in clashes Saturday between security forces and anti-government
protesters. Three of those injured were in critical condition, the sources said.
On Friday, Human Rights Watch said 84 people had been killed by government
security forces. The group cited interviews with hospital staff and witnesses.
CNN could not independently verify the numbers.
Meanwhile, a doctor in Benghazi said her facility is taking on trauma patients
because a trauma hospital in the city is inundated by those injured.
"All of them have been injured by bullets," said the doctor, whose identity is
not being released for security reasons. She said most suffered gunshot wounds
to the head, chest or neck.
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Doctors at al-Jalaa hospital said there was a shortage of beds and facilities
since there are only 15 operating rooms. They said the hospital is using a
nearby school to store some of the dead bodies until they are transported to
morgues and cemeteries. They have appealed to people to donate blankets.
People who appear to be African mercenaries circled Benghazi's security
headquarters Sunday. Continued clashes took place at the gates of the Alfadeel
Abu-Omar military camp in the center of the city, eyewitness said. Sporadic
shooting from the camp at the civilians continued Sunday, citizens who live
near the camp told CNN.
Thousands, many of whom are lawyers, remained camped outside the city's high
court chanting, "The people want to bring down the regime."
Citizens spoke of a food shortage in various parts of the city.
Libyans in Benghazi told CNN the internet remained down in the city and
electricity was cut off for the second night in the row, but was back in the
morning.
Benghazi, the North African nation's second-largest city and hub of its eastern
province, was home to some of the bloodiest clashes Saturday. Still, an
anti-government demonstrator there said that despite having been barraged for
days by tear gas and bullets, many of his colleagues slept outside the city's
courthouse and planned another rally for Sunday afternoon.
"There are a lot of people getting killed for their freedom," the man, who was
not identified for safety reasons, told CNN Sunday. "Our goal is simple: We
want Gadhafi to leave. We want freedom. ... We want democracy."
The man, a technology expert who has set up cameras airing live online video
streams around Benghazi, estimated that the numbers of anti-government
demonstrators in the city has grown by 20% since the protests began Tuesday.
Obtaining independent confirmation on events in Libya is very difficult. The
Libyan government maintains tight control on communications and has not
responded to repeated requests from CNN for access to the country. CNN has
interviewed numerous witnesses by phone.
A report from Libya's state-run JANA news agency blames "acts of sabotage and
burning" on outsiders aiming to undermine the nation's stability, security and
unity. The report claims that the unrest has been fomented in Libya as well as
Tunisia, Morocco, Sudan, Egypt, Lebanon and Iran by an Israeli-led network of
covert operatives.
Since Wednesday, authorities have arrested "dozens of foreign members of this
network who were trained on starting clashes," the JANA story said, adding that
the outsiders were of Tunisian, Egyptian, Sudanese, Turkish, Palestinian and
Syrian descent.
The soldiers... said, 'We are with you.' We believed them. After that, they
started shooting the people. Why?
--Libyan woman
RELATED TOPICS
* Libya
* Moammar Gadhafi
Lt. Col. Mohammed al-Majbari, who helped lead Libyan military forces in
Benghazi before deciding early this week to join the opposition, claimed that
government forces -- aided by mercenaries from other African countries --
"caused a massacre."
"It is time for freedom," al-Majbari said. "(Gadhafi) is not a human being. A
Libyan would never do this to his people. He is a dictator."
Several eyewitnesses told CNN that cars of riflemen drove past protesters,
indiscriminately firing at them.
A Libyan woman supportive of the protesters, who was not identified to protect
her safety, told CNN that army soldiers on Saturday initially claimed
solidarity with the demonstrators, only to reverse their tack and open fire on
the crowd.
"The soldiers ... said, 'We are with you.' We believed them," she said. "After
that, they started shooting the people. Why? Why did they lie?"
Others in Libya reported similar protests in the cities of al-Baida, Ajdabiya
and significantly in Misratah -- an indication that the demonstrations centered
in the east were spreading west.
A protester identified only as Moftah told CNN that Libyans, inspired by the
toppling of dictators in neighboring Egypt and Tunisia, had simply had enough
of Gadhafi.
"He will tell you that his secret police are everywhere," Moftah said. "It's
time to break this fear barrier. We reach a point that we don't care anymore."
The official Jamahiriya News Agency reported that Gadhafi had spoken in recent
days with fellow leaders from Guinea, Liberia and Yemen.
The government also sent out, via text, a tacit warning against "the
inappropriate use of telecommunications services (that) contradict our religion
... our customs ... and our traditions." Internet service in Libya shut down
Friday evening, though it was more available by Sunday.
The government's firm grip on power heightened the concerns of a woman from
Benghazi, who urged U.S. President Barack Obama and other world leaders to help
the Libyan people in the face of the government crackdown.
"We have no freedom here," she said. "I speak to all the world, to America, to
Mr. Obama: Please help us. We (did) nothing. We want to live a good life."
The female doctor at the Benghazi hospital said Sunday she worries more
violence will ensue.
"I think -- and I hope not -- it's going to be (a) more disastrous situation
than yesterday because yesterday was more of a disaster than the two days
before," she said. "I'm so scared."
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