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Libya Protests: Mass Casualties

by The Daily Beast Info

 The Daily Beast
 

As Gaddafi forces launch a bloody new assault on rebel strongholds, new reports show a complete disruption in Internet service across the country. Plus, full coverage of the uprising.

Protests returned to the seat of Muammar Gaddafi’s power Friday, with protesters taking to the streets of Tripoli after Friday afternoon prayers. They were attacked with tear gas, and the violence appears to be worse in other parts of the country. Meanwhile, the country has gone dark, with Internet access completely shut off across the whole nation shortly after 4:35 p.m. on Thursday.

Libya’s opposition has thus far held off loyalist militias in Zawiya, a key city 30 miles from Tripoli. (See map below.) But Gaddafi’s mercenaries made another attempt Friday to retake Zawiya, and the clash was bloody: At least 50 people were killed, one witness told Reuters. Thirty of those were civilians, and the city’s hospitals are full of the injured. “They could not find a space for the casualties,” a second witness said. There was also fierce fighting in Ras Lanuf, and police in Tripoli fired tear gas on peaceful protesters and killed those who fell to the ground wounded. On Friday, the U.S. stepped up its humanitarian aid to the country, sending two military planes full of emergency supplies to neighboring Tunisia.

In one district of Tripoli, protesters burned Libyan flags and called for Gaddafi’s fall while pro-Gaddafi forces fired tear gas. Authorities had been gearing up for the Friday protest by reportedly closing mosques and detaining people overnight. Residents say pro-Gaddafi militias have been roaming the streets in civilian cars, detaining and killing people and leaving their bodies in the street. Meanwhile Gaddafi forces made their second air raid on the rebel-held harbor of Breqa, and rebel forces advanced on the oil port of Ras Lanuf. Plus, more on Libya.

Article - Libya Map AP

Article - Libya Map 2 AP

WATCH THE VIDEO (Warning: Graphic)

"People can't retrieve one of the dead bodies"

LPC from Az Zawiya: "People can't retrieve one of the dead bodies because #Gaddafi forces are shooting at them from a roof." #Libya #Feb17less than a minute ago via web

 

"50+ dead, 300 injured during the massacre of Zawiah today"

CONFIRMED on Al Jazeera: 50+ dead, 300 injured during the massacre of Zawiah today #libya #feb17 @FreeLibya @feb17libya @IbnOmar2005less than a minute ago via web

 

"Massacre today in Az Zawiya"

An audio report allegedly details the "massacre" in Az Zawiya. Listen:

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March 4, 2011 | 10:26am
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Comments ()

DeniseEspinosa

Bad enough for another Hawaii trip?

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12:25 pm, Mar 4, 2011

Dr_SwampGas

I wish you Republicans would show at least some sympathy and consideration to the Libyans who are being killed.

You can at least pretend to have a little humanity in you.

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12:51 pm, Mar 4, 2011

Grammers

Do you really want to discuss presidential vacations ?!?! ( your boy W)

Show respect for the deceased in Libya.

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1:15 pm, Mar 4, 2011

CaptSensible

What a deeply fithy comment. People are being mowed down by machine gun fire from their own government and you choose to go for a shockingly slimy political cheap shot. I thought I had seen it all.

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2:39 pm, Mar 4, 2011

Mike Walker

These Middle East uprisings will have varying degrees of success / failure - but some are going to prevail. This is a base movement for civil & human rights, which isn't going away if some of the revolts fail this time -- incredible satellite view of Middle East; Balkingpoints / www

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7:38 pm, Mar 4, 2011

noblinders

In the mean time all you bleeding heart knee jerkers are not pressing the White House to act on this massacre nor are you even wondering where in the hell the impotent United Nations is hiding while we still continue to support them.

OH wow, I forgot, Obama said Gaddafi must go! And I heard Gaddafi is really scared at that toothless declaration. Until the people spoke Gaddafi was good enough to part of the UN sham of the (laughing my brains out) sham of the UN Human Rights Council made up primarily of the worlds worst human rights abusers. Until now it was just fine that we shelter a madman because the people were quiet. In the mean time our leaders behave like his tyrannical rule truly comes as a surprise! And yes, let us wipe out those pictures of shaking hands with Muammar baby...even forgiving him and breaking bread in a meal with him reveals so much about how our leaders treasure oil more than truth and honor. Oh yes, and for the tens of thousands of U.S citizens living in Lybia who pretend to love the Lybian people so much, now you speak out!? All this silence all this time. Oh yes, to quote George Bush, "only a few wish to hijack peace." I could quote Obama too for so many times he bent over backwards to give us an earful as to how peaceful and wonderful the ancient religion of Islam is. Damn, he won't even use the word terrorist as to not hurt the tender sensibilities of those who wish us dead, including the people on the streets who are saying enough is enough. The people on the streets will not be quiet and indeed this poses quite a problem for our appeasing feckless leaders in the west for now they might have to start telling the truth.

It is little comfort to the families of the dead serviceman gunned down in Germany by a crazed terrorist yelling "Ala aka bar" that our leaders still insist Islam has been hijacked. Ask one of those people on the streets of Libya about the religion of peace and what it has done for them. Ditto the Egyptians, the Syrians, the Lebanese, the Turks, etc.,etc.

Well the people on the street are speaking and God bless them all. Our feckless leaders can no longer pretend what is happening now is a revelation.

Today, Iran officially becomes a member of the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women. Honestly, when I read that I didn't know if I should laugh or cry. Only three days ago, the U.N. General Assembly voted to suspend Libya's membership on the U.N. Human Rights Council in a desperate bid to save the Council's tattered reputation and itself. Tattered reputation you protest.

Their legacy of shame: (those who say they care never care to discuss)

Mission: "...responsible for promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all...."

Members: Saudi Arabia, China, Vice-Presidents: Cuba, Angola
UN Commission on the Status of Women (starting Friday, March 4, 2011)

Mission: "...set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide."

Members: The Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran
UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice


Mission: "...set...out global strategy to prevent crime and promote stable criminal justice systems...and improving the efficiency and fairness of criminal justice administration systems."

Members: Libya, Russia, Sudan, Iran, DRC, Pakistan
UN Women

Mission: "...support, address and contribute to gender equality and the empowerment and the advancement of women..."

Members: Executive Board: DRC, Saudi Arabia, China, Libya
UN Economic and Social Council


Mission: "...responsible for: promoting higher standards of living, full employment, and economic and social progress...encouraging universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms..."

Members: Saudi Arabia
UN Commission on Sustainable Development


Mission: "...to promote dialogue and build partnerships for sustainable development with major groups include[ing] women, youth, indigenous peoples, non-governmental organizations, local authorities, workers and trade unions, business and industry, the scientific community, and farmers..."

Members: Angola, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia
UN Commission on Social Development

Mission: "....promoting full employment and decent work for all...Improving public sector effectiveness....National and international cooperation for social development..."

Members: Cuba, Egypt, Zimbabwe
UN Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations


Mission: "...The consideration of applications for consultative status [with the UN]...submitted by NGOs..."

Members: Sudan, Cuba, Pakistan, China
UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT)

Mission: "...promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all...security of tenure and equal access to economic resources for all, with a specific focus on gender equality."

Members: Governing Council: Iran
UN Committee on Information


Mission: "To promote the establishment of a new, more just and more effective world information and communication order...based on the free circulation and wider and better-balanced dissemination of information..."

Members: China, Kazakhstan, Libya, Iran
UN Children's Fund (UNICEF to which the children never see the money because the despots/leaders of their countries give a rats ass for children!)

Mission: "....advocate for the protection of children's rights,(NO THIS IS NOT THE JOKE OF THE DAY!!!!) to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential..."

Members: Executive Board: Sudan, China
UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Mission: "...safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees."

Members: Executive Committee: Lebanon, Somalia, Sudan
UN World Food Programme


Mission: "...advocate policies, strategies and operations that directly benefit the poor and hungry."

Members: Executive Board: Sudan


I suggest you take the blinders off.....

The UN Security Council job description
(The Charter of the United Nations)


The Purposes of the United Nations are: (1) To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace...


*****

Number of UN Security Council presidential statements or resolutions on the current atrocities perpetrated against their own people by Arab and Muslim dictators in Iran, Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Syria, and Bahrain.


ZERO


Number of meetings called by the Security Council to discuss and consider a possible resolution or presidential statement on any of these countries.


ZERO


*****


The UN Human Rights Council job description
(General Assembly Resolution A/RES/60/251)


The General Assembly (1) Decides to establish the Human Rights Council...(2) Decides that the Council shall be responsible for promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind and in a fair and equal manner; (3) Decides also that the Council should address situations of violations of human rights, including gross and systematic violations, and make recommendations thereon...(10) Decides further that the Council...shall be able to hold special sessions, when needed...


*****

Number of special sessions called by the Human Rights Council to draw attention to, discuss, consider a possible resolution on the current atrocities perpetrated against their own people by Arab and Muslim dictators in Iran, Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Syria, and Bahrain.


ZERO


Number of resolutions or decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council about the lack of democracy and brutality of the governments of Arab and Muslim dictators in Iran, Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia,Yemen, Syria, and Bahrain.
ZERO


*****

Membership Qualifications for the United Nations Human Rights Council
- its lead human rights body (General Assembly Resolution A/RES/60/251)

8. Decides that...when electing members of the Council, Member States shall take into account the contribution of candidates to the promotion and protection of human rights...9. Decides also that members elected to the Council shall uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights...


*****


Current Members of the UN Human Rights Council

Libya
Saudi Arabia
Bahrain

Egypt just concluded a three-year term in 2010.

courtesy of EYE on the UN.

OH my oh my we are so breathless with these atrocities we will just continue to wear blinders ignoring the indisputable facts I listed above. But hey, you can always write another check to UNICEF to make yourself feel better even though you know the precious suffering kids will never get it.......






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2:03 pm, Mar 4, 2011

redsunriseman1

Well we could LIE TO THE WORLD AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC LIKE BUSH DID. AND HAVE OUR SOILDERS KILLED IN libia looking for WMD'S AGAIN | THEN YOU AND YOUR PARTY CAN CLAIM THREE WARS WE CAN'T PAY FOR BECAUSE THE RICH JERKS YOU GAVE A TRILLON IN TAX BREAKS PUT US INTO A DEPRESSION AND HAVE STALLED ALL EFFORTS FOR A RECOVERY . WHEN THEY CAPTURE GADDAFI DON'T FORGET TO PICK UP BUSH & CHENEY FOR THE SAME CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IN THE HAGG TOO | WAR MONGERS|

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2:27 pm, Mar 4, 2011

noblinders

Oh goodness me, the fault always lies with the other side. Thank God we have Bush and company to deflect the least little bit of personal blame. I mean Obama is the president now and no matter how stupid and inept Bush was, he is no longer the occupier of the oval office. Understand? I have nothing to say good about Bush and Cheney but I will say to compare them to Gaddafi is childish at best. On the postive side no matter what you can say bad about Bush, Saddam is no more. Period. This is about the people on the street not about your childish assertions.

The left and right are having so many meltdowns it is pathetic. Proves no one wants to hear the truth just fling your verbal barbs like the idiots throwing stones. This is why the world is in such a mess. It is partisanship to the nth degree! It is my sh*t never stinks. Yah right. Well I suggest a mirror to your face to begin with.


News flash. Both democrats and republicans will have a hard time gaining sizable majority next time around because there are tens of thousands of defections from both sides to independent.

Anyway, best of luck with your all capital letter rants. Hagg?? I suggest you learn the correct spelling for the ---> place people go who are accused of war crimes if you want anyone to take you seriously. And speaking of humanity, if you had a inch of it you would be shocked by the above expose on the impotent United Nations. But then you rather blame Bush and Cheney than the real perpetrators of wrong doing.

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8:00 pm, Mar 4, 2011

This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.

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3:41 pm, Mar 4, 2011
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