84 Dead in Libya Protests

[Toro]

Longtime Libyan strongman Col. Moammar Gadhafi faced what appeared to be the greatest resistance to his rule Friday, with human-rights and opposition groups reporting demonstrations in several Libyan cities that met a deadly government response.

New York-based Human Rights Watch put the death toll at at least 84 in three days of protests. Human-rights and opposition groups also reported difficulty contacting witnesses inside Libya, suggesting Internet and mobile-phone disruptions.

Renesys, an Internet operability tracker, said Libya appeared to have cut off most Internet connections late Friday, but that much of the service —about two-thirds—had been restored early Saturday.

Groups monitoring Libya said the army has been deployed to the restive, eastern city of Benghazi, scene of this week's first and largest clashes between pro-Gadhafi forces and protesters who seek regime change.

Tawfiq Alghazwani, a Dublin-based member of the National Congress of Libyan Opposition who cited witnesses inside Libya, said protests took place in nine cities Friday, the largest move against Col. Gadhafi in his 42 years of rule. Mr. Alghazwani said 100,000 people—including professionals, women and youth—turned out in Benghazi, Libya's second city.

Since Tuesday, protesters have railed against corruption, unemployment, lack of political freedom and repression of civil rights. ...

A small gathering of protesters, calling for the release from jail of a human-rights attorney, swelled into a violent anti-regime demonstration in Benghazi late Tuesday. Since then, local media, human-rights and opposition groups outside the country have reported a series of clashes across Libya.

Opposition groups and Internet-based organizers called for demonstrations against Col. Gadhafi's rule Thursday, the anniversary of two separate, bloody crackdowns in Benghazi by Libyan forces.

Human Rights Watch said hundreds of peaceful protesters took to the streets Thursday in Benghazi and at least four other towns. "Libyan security forces shot and killed the demonstrators in efforts to disperse the protests," the group said in an emailed statement Friday, citing witnesses.

Some of the worst violence was in the town of Al Baida, east of Benghazi, the group said. Human Rights Watch said hospital staff put out a call for additional medical supplies, overwhelmed by an influx of 70 injured protesters, half of which were said to be in critical condition from gunshot wounds.

The organization said a witness in Benghazi said hundreds of lawyers and activists gathered in front of the city's high court Thursday evening to demand constitutional reform and rule of law.

Anti-Gadhafi Protests Swell to Biggest Level - WSJ.com

 

[Intense]

 

[DiveCon]

it seems to be spreading all over the ME

 

[Trajan]

is it me, or has obama addressed Libya et al?

 

[Care4all]

makes me more grateful to be living here!

Even with all of our faults, it is still a great nation to live in!