Libyan diplomats defect en masse - Africa. Diplomats at Libyan embassies in the US, the United Nations, the Arab League, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Poland, India and Bangladesh, among others, have either resigned from their posts, or disavowed links to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's government.
Many say that they now stand with the protesters, and have called for international intervention into what at least one deputy ambassador termed a "genocide". We present here a snapshot of their statements. "I think [Gaddafi] should step down, of course, after what's happening in our country now. There's no other solution. He should step down and give the chance for the people to make their future. "How can I support a government killing our people? "The tyrant Muammar Gaddafi has asserted clearly, through his sons, the level of ignorance he and his children have, and how much he despises Libya and the Libyan people," he said in a statement that was endorsed by the staff at the mission, excluding the ambassador.
"I have enough of it. The Gates of Hell Have Opened in Tripoli. I am watching Aljazeera Arabic, which is calling people in Tripoli on the telephone and asking them what is going on in the capital.
The replies are poignant in their raw emotion, bordering on hysteria. The residents are alleging that the Qaddafi regime has scrambled fighter jets to strafe civilian crowds, has deployed heavy artillery against them, and has occupied the streets with armored vehicles and strategically-placed snipers. One man is shouting that “the gates of Hell have opened” in the capital and that “this is Halabja!” (where Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein ordered helicopter gunships to hit a Kurdish city with sarin gas, killing 5000 in 1988). Two defecting Libyan pilots who flew to Malta confirmed the orders to strafe the crowds from the air and said that they declined to obey the order. YouTube video shows buildings on fire or burned out in the capital, or with holes in the walls, evidence of violence through the night and into the morning.
Les Lybiens ont vaincu la peur. Live Blog - Libya Feb 22. As the uprising in Libya enters its ninth day, we keep you updated on the developing situation from our headquarters in Doha, Qatar.
Blog: Feb17 - Feb18 - Feb19 - Feb20 - Feb21 AJE Live Stream - Twitter Audio: Voices from Libya - Benghazi Protest Radio (Arabic) (All times are local in Libya GMT+2) February 22 11:53pm: Tripoli resident Khaleed urges Nato and others to send peacekeeping troops. Right after his speech, mercenaries were sent into the street. Bangladeshis in Benghazi being evacuated. Thursday, March 20, 2008 Sports Lyon striker Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring against Sochaux during their French Cup tie at the Gerland Stadium on Tuesday.Photo: AFPAfp, Paris Lyon and Paris Saint Germain shot into the quarterfinals of the French Cup on Tuesday night with two-goal heroes Karim Benzema and Loris Arnaud respectively.
Benzema score twice in Lyon's 2-1 home victory over Sochaux and Arnaud also found the net on two occasions in their earlier 2-1 victory over Bastia at the Parc des Princes. Arnaud said after the match the victory, by largely reserve players more used to third division football, was a testament to confidence placed on them by coach Paul Le Guen. "The coach gave us the chance tonight and we did everything we could to show him we would not let him down. When asked if he might play in the next match for the first team, Arnaud said: "Why not? As for Lyon's game, Benzema score his 28th and 29th goals of the season all competitions combined. Kadhafi dénonce les manifestants et fait appel à ses partisans. TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Le dirigeant libyen Mouammar Kadhafi a déclaré mardi qu'il nettoierait "la Libye maison par maison" si les manifestations contre son régime se poursuivent.
Dans un discours fleuve retransmis par la télévision libyenne, il a affirmé qu'il ne cèderait pas le pouvoir, jurant de ne pas quitter son pays et se disant prêt à y "mourir en martyr".