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  • March 14, 2011
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North Africa

Libyans Call for Gadhafi's Departure

Anti-Gadhafi protest in Benghazi, Libya, March 11, 2011
Photo: AP

Anti-Gadhafi protest in Benghazi, Libya, March 11, 2011

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Thousands of Libyans have poured onto the streets in the eastern city of Benghazi where they renewed calls for the resignation of leader Moammar Gadhafi.

The demonstration in Libya's second largest city began after Friday prayers.  Some protesters carried banners thanking France for its decision to recognize opposition leaders.

News-agency, AFP  report says a Libyan fighter jet carried out fresh airstrikes on Friday near the eastern oil port Ras Lanuf.  On Thursday, rebels retreated from their stronghold in the town, after pro-Gadhafi forces launched air, land and sea attacks to regain control.

The rebel leadership also acknowledged on Thursday that the western town Zawiya, near the capital, Tripoli, was back in the hands of government loyalists.

The International Committee of the Red Cross says Libya has descended into civil war, and that the conflict has so far killed more than 1,000 people and caused more than 250,000 Libyans to flee the country.

New details are coming in also about the economic effect of the turmoil.  The French oil giant Total said Friday that Libya's oil production continues to decline steadily.  Total's chief executive, Christophe de Margerie, said Libya's previous daily production level of about 1.6 million barrels of oil is now down to 200,000 to 300,000 barrels per day.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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Comments (74)

11-03-2011

You spelt Gaddafi wrong. It is spelt Gaddafi, not Gadhafi. Just saying

11-03-2011 hamad part 1 of 2 (oman)

What a great victory ! Who has alive concessions will not dare to kill his nation under the guise of fake civil war in order to make Gaddafi able to gain oil wealth and maintain his throne . People with traditional old weapons fight till last drop of their blood and sacrifice their lives for what ? Moreover , their mothers and sisters encourage them to fight and pursue their rights . Are all those Libyans from Al-Qaida ?

11-03-2011 hamad part 2 of 2 (oman)

Saif exposed his intentions frankly and he and his father will eradicate Libyans ( Al-Qaida ) radically . Something has got to be done to stop this bloodshed and massacre otherwise , the repercussion will be costly and bloody .

11-03-2011 john wilson (canada)

usa and other countrys would do nothing to help iran protests because iran was too powerful,now they want libya oil so they sit on fence to see who will win,then they will back the winning side,its all about oil,libyans rebels do not care about usa,they just want their help ,stay out of it,usa,

11-03-2011

Every thing fair in the name of Islam & Arabian pride !! Is there anything in the name of Humanity ?

11-03-2011 Louay (Canada)

If the western governments do not act now, let them shut up next time when Gaddafi throws something at them,then I guess they desrve that!!!

11-03-2011

It is "SPELLED" not "SPELT" Swallow a Camel and choke on a flea.

11-03-2011

GADHAFI SHOULD STEP DOWN. WE ARE TIRED OF THE GROWING TENDENCY DICTACTORSHIP BY AFRICAN LEADERS. LEADERS LIKE GADHAFI, GBHAGBHO AND MUGABE ARE SERVING THEIR SELF INTERESTS AND NEGLECTING THE ISSUES OF POVERTY, ILITERACY, UNEMPLOYMENT AND MORTALITY RATE IN AFRICA. FELLOW AFRICANS WE NEED TO STOP BEING LOYAL TO LEADERS WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT ANYMORE.

11-03-2011 Nejalid (Iran)

Kadhafi has to defeat these rebels, they are machines used USA-France-UK to destabilise arab-world.

11-03-2011 THESWORD (USA)

HAMAD: you ask what are the Libyan people sacrificing their lives for? The answer is freedom! Freedom always comes at a very high price, and they will achieve freedom if all the people of Libya want it and are willing to stand up together and pay the price.

11-03-2011

It is for the beneift of EU and West to distabalise a stable gov. If they order a no fly zon for libya they can order it fo Saudi Arabia.

11-03-2011 Mohamed (Sri Lanka)

The Dictator, Quaththaafi, survives due to lack of guts of the International Community.

11-03-2011 toussaint (rwanda)

Never and i will never agree with someone who is killing his own people in order to conserve his power, kaddafi will never live like a mountain, big up libya people, one time you will be free from this wild loveless colonel kaddafi.

11-03-2011 xbronx (USA)

No matter what we do to help, America is always blamed for the worlds problems. Yes, payback will be bloody. Now we have a president that promised everyone that we would get out of these wars. We had a GREAT president who knew what was going on and everyone made him look like the bad guy. Mr. Obama what do we do now?

11-03-2011 (Kenya)

May the lord be with u Libya

11-03-2011 rj (US)

"You spelt Gaddafi wrong. It is spelt Gaddafi, not Gadhafi. Just saying" - There are a lot of ways to romanize different languages. Arabic alone has about eleven diferent recognized standards. Just saying...

11-03-2011 rj (US)

"You spelt Gaddafi wrong. It is spelt Gaddafi, not Gadhafi. Just saying" - There are a lot of ways to romanize different languages. Arabic alone has about eleven diferent recognized standards. Just saying...

11-03-2011 ademola solanke (nigeria)

The crisis in Libya has exposed the hypocrisy of the so called western world led by the USA. most of them are only grumbling just because they dont want refugees from Libya spilling into Europe due to that country's proximity.The UN continue to entertain an unamused audience with its buffoonery by engaging in unproductive meetings while Gadaffi continues to slaughter his own people. What a bunch of complete morons.(the UN and the Western hypocrites.

11-03-2011 michael trupei (Canada)

It is the CIA's ongoing agenda to undermine Gaddafi's government and the like. Had it not been for the spooks, Libya and whole Middle East would not be in turmoil as it is today. The main purpose for this is, of course, to secure the non renewable scarce resources, that is: OIL! As well as an unrelenting march towards the New World Order under the United States leadership in its hopes to partly offset and/or cancel its $ 83 trillion debt owed to the International Bankers as we speak.

11-03-2011 michael trupei (Canada)

It is the CIA's ongoing agenda to undermine Gaddafi's government and the like. Had it not been for the spooks, Libya and whole Middle East would not be in turmoil as it is today. The main purpose for this is, of course, to secure the non renewable scarce resources, that is: OIL! As well as an unrelenting march towards the New World Order under the United States leadership in its hopes to partly offset and/or cancel its $ 83 trillion debt owed to the International Bankers as we speak.

11-03-2011 michael trupei (Canada)

It is the CIA's ongoing agenda to undermine Gaddafi's government and the like. Had it not been for the spooks, Libya and whole Middle East would not be in turmoil as it is today. The main purpose for this is, of course, to secure the non renewable scarce resources, that is: OIL! As well as an unrelenting march towards the New World Order under the United States leadership in its hopes to partly offset and/or cancel its $ 83 trillion debt owed to the International Bankers as we speak.

11-03-2011 Val (United States)

We, the US, "helped" the locals in Afghanistan when the Soviets invaded. In doing so, we created, then armed Al Quaeda , who came back and killed our children, husbands, and first kisses (mine). I hate to see the rebels dying, but history suggests they will eventually reward us with slaughter.

11-03-2011 (UK)

Well, Europe can help the rebels and Europe can expect armed Al Quaeda members back in Europe`s countries, like The USA did in Afganistan. Thanks for this idea.

11-03-2011 (UK)

Well, Europe can help the rebels and Europe can expect armed Al Quaeda members back in Europe`s countries, like The USA did in Afganistan. Thanks for this idea.

11-03-2011 Jezira Gatwech. (Sudan)

we are very sorry to hear of a victory, is that victory of killing innocent libyian peaple or what kind of it? that the murderous saif slam talking about. you suppose to fear God if not human life. we know that the libyian peaple are under your feet, but let me alet you of the event that took place in Sadam Husien his life, the same is the one runing now on you and your father,the libyian peaple will kill you and hang your father.

11-03-2011 Aslan (Canada)

Gaddafi should eliminate those "revolutionaries" without mercy. They are nothing other than armed gangs spreading chaos and destruction to property. If France recognizes them as legitimate force they could also recognize Taliban and other rebellious groups like in Chechnya. Long live Gaddafi!

11-03-2011 Angela Santos (S. Tomé, Wester Africa)

My God has a pity for this people. Stop all of this. Say ''Gaddaffi, it is enough'' Only Him can do it'' That man has devil in his body. Why he and his family want live based on material. The money is not good. Who lives thinking on material things will not be long. He is going to stop, because is God is going to teell him. ''STOP''

11-03-2011 sharky1 (uk)

Is allright you people harping on about freedom,if we get involved how many of our children must die per liter,as a concerned parent with 2 sons i do not want them to die for the greedy fat cats who only see oil.lets have it right all these so called freedom fightsrs are fighting fo a muslim statthey want our help with a no fly zone and wepons but do not want any ground forces,hmmm sounds very dodgy

11-03-2011 omar (africa)

Gaddafi don't have to give up for some rebels who are fighting in their own intrest,and trying to by fovor from the west! These are rebels.get it.from modern history all rebels are terrorist and should be captured and killed.

11-03-2011 Bobbak (Iran)

have you guys noticed the David Star on Gadhafi's hat? as you see doesn't matter who seize the power, Gadhafi or rebels all are the same creatures. those people think whoever is evil has a connection to jews. do you think those kind of people know what democracy is? if you think after Gadhafi a democratic pro American government come to power, you are wring. we have bad government because our nation are not ready for peace and freedom

11-03-2011 123 (romania)

All due respect but i can not understand why the arabs need these parasite kings . Let's look at Saudi Arabia how it banned protests and marches , but the crooked king was ok. with marches to BOW DOWN AND PRAISE HIM . Does it mean that those rallies were also ILLEGAL . Saudi Arabia is turning into a haven for dictators.

11-03-2011 123 (romania)

All due respect but i can not understand why the arabs need these parasite kings . Let's look at Saudi Arabia how it banned protests and marches , but the crooked king was ok. with marches to BOW DOWN AND PRAISE HIM . Does it mean that those rallies were also ILLEGAL . Saudi Arabia is turning into a haven for dictators.

11-03-2011 Wayne (Usa)

First the western press call them peaceful demonstrators, freedom fighters, then rebels. what's next? It's obvious these people are militias that are doing the fighting. Who's on the side of the rebels? Uk, France, Italy, USA etc. It's the same nations that wants "freedom" for the Iraqis. I tell you the western countries are "fire starters".

11-03-2011 Adrian (USA)

They always complain that the US gets involved in everything that it's not our business. Well I say for us not to get involved and watch libya tear itself apart and then the world will complain why didn't the US do anything. Well let the french deal with it.

11-03-2011 (USA)

Give the rebels same level of arms or give election, people decide------ then we know who is who.......That guy has money, he already bought the politicians all over the world

11-03-2011 johnypaycut (u.s.a.)

Gaddafi's got to go! if the international community fails to act, we'l see more wacky "gaddafi's" willing to shoot there people,doing anything to support there agenda. the Libyans deserve the right to a elected goverment. i only hope the rest of the 'foot draggers(germany, china,russia,italy) get with the program(any winers can blame america,after he's gone,i know you will!)

11-03-2011 Laurie

"We had a GREAT president" Your so-called GREAT president put you in those wars, to begin with. Bust and Cheney and Rumsfeld are all War Criminals and should be tried for crimes against huminity.

11-03-2011

ther are actually several ways to spell Gaddaffi.

11-03-2011 Xmen (Somewhere)

You know what they say...Those that cause the problem will always come out to be the savior.. war is never the answer..

11-03-2011 Tim (USA)

The United States is already being blamed. We have interfered in other countries affairs when we were not invited in the name of freedom. Now that a people chooses to fight on their own for the same freedom that we enjoy and asks for our help, we shoul be obligated, they need us.

11-03-2011 Fred Hewitt (USA)

If Gaddafi has been so good for Libya, why has he continued to have his people live in such abominable circumstances? Maybe I should ask the same question of leaders in the Middle East. All ABSOLUTE heads of states. And the Prime Minister of the only democratic state, with the tacit approval of the western democratic countries, that continues to brutalize its Arab inhabitants. And has the Palestinian people in total subjection.

11-03-2011

These countries take our money so easily and yet cry out that we are the greedy ones. They take the aid from everyone, but do not distribute it to anyone, and the US is the bad country. Maybe we should take our money and aid and help ourselves and let the rest of the world figure out how to do it on their own.

11-03-2011 Derek (USA)

This civil war has shown the UN is completely useless and impotent. Libyans want the world to help, which means send in US troops, whom the world already hates. So now, since we don't (rightfully so) want to do that (we're a little busy), no one's going to do anything. This shows the world is ok with the US shedding blood, and NO OTHER UN MEMBER countries. Let them fight their own battles; the US is tired of being the world's police and being dogged for it.

11-03-2011 Munya (Zimbabwe)

Cry mother Africa!!! We are perishing!!!

11-03-2011

There's no one correct Western spelling of Gaddafi, because the true spelling is in a different alphabet, so our spellings are as close as we can get phonetically. And spelt is the British spelling of spelled.

11-03-2011

There is only one way to spell "there," and when appropriate you should spell it "their." If you are from the USA, quit embarrassing your country. At least use spell check.

11-03-2011 Mike (Canada)

Am I the only one who noticed that there seems to be a Jewish Star of David posted on that anti-Gaddafi protester's poster? Why are we bringing Jews or Israel into this?

11-03-2011 patriot (usa)

all americans should remember that, if france had not helped us during our revolution then we would still be under british control

11-03-2011 john (usa)

danm you people this is not a joke. Stop checkin spell gzee :(

11-03-2011 Elmer (USA)

ITS ABOUT TIME FOR THE WHOLE MIDDLE EAST FOR A DEMOCRATIC CHANGE WHERE MEN AND WOMEN HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS.

11-03-2011 AFM (USA)

Now it is a Civil War! Let the Libyans take care of their internal affairs. When Egypt was in tumoil, got sick and tired of the $1.5 billion aid to Egypt being used as leverage. What leverage does the US now have over Libya? By freezing their funds? Does that sound more like extortion?

11-03-2011 AFM (USA)

Now it is a Civil War! Let the Libyans take care of their internal affairs. When Egypt was in tumoil, got sick and tired of the $1.5 billion aid to Egypt being used as leverage. What leverage does the US now have over Libya? By freezing their funds? Does that sound more like extortion?

11-03-2011 Michael Rose (United States of America)

The Libyan people have awakened from a deep sleep. Their desire to have the very basic humanitarian hope for their children is growing. Health, food, clothing and a desire to be a positive part of the modern world. As an American and a Jew my cultures tell me there is a light at the end of the tunnel for the Libyan people. I offer my complete recognition to the birth of your nation.

11-03-2011 John Constantine (Canada)

You all know that if U.S. troops are sent to Libya.... that Al-Qaeda will follow them there. Do you remember all the foreign fighters that went to Iraq to fight the Americans? I want Qaddafi's rule to end. Libya needs help... this time, the other Muslim or African countries should step up and do their part. Not just the West (who will be blamed for doing it for the OIL only)

11-03-2011 AFM (USA)

Now it is a Civil War! Let the Libyans take care of their internal affairs. When Egypt was in tumoil, got sick and tired of the $1.5 billion aid to Egypt being used as leverage. What leverage does the US now have over Libya? By freezing their funds? What kind of leverage is that?

11-03-2011 Alex (USA)

Freedom from dictatorship is not easy, and without major sacrifices, but bottom line is....if you are not willing to fight for your freedom then shut up, sit back and enjoy being dictated to and controlled. You have to WANT freedom, not just cry about it.

11-03-2011 Bojang Victor (Liberia)

It is a complete disgrace to we the Africans that up to now Gadhafi is still stubborn and does not want to flee for sanity to return to that country. Even though he has the supremacy both land, sea and air, the people still need a change. The Libyans have made up their minds and are prepare to die for a democratic change.

11-03-2011 Drd ((Europe))

Are the rebels also not killing their own people?

11-03-2011

I was under a spell when I spelt spelled wrong, gaddaffi, gadahfi, gadhafi, who gives a fish, the guy is a nutter. never mind his people love him. because unlike western dick tatators. who have armoured vehicles to get about, he has a golf buggy, got to love the guy and stop trying to make him look a fool. he has done all that on his own.

11-03-2011 Hansen (Denmark)

I notice Gaddafi is portrayed as a Jewish, moth-eaten vampire rat. What's wrong with just moth-eaten vampire rat?

11-03-2011 John (USA)

the people in Bingazi went protesting peacfully first and then bam...the next day they are carrying weapons and storming Army depots. This is not protest, this is without a doubt something much more... It has a conspersy written all over it. These rebels are paid to destablize the country. They lost my vote once they start shooting.

11-03-2011 sharky1 (uk)

The rebels are killing their own people using them as human shields.why dont they go out of the citys and fight,they know innocent people will die if they fight inside citys and towns,plus do we really need another Irak.now more people die in a month unber saddam it was a year. As for the USA remember elction time is coming around so they have washed their hands and quite correct,

11-03-2011 Mike (South Africa)

Those who surport The regime of Gadaffi deserve to be put against a wall and shot hes doing the same thing as mugabe does rules with fear and the gun. No moral country can say that 41 years in power is the peoples wishes when they have so much suffering. Dictators all need to be strung up and ousted from their seats

11-03-2011 Bob (USA)

For those who believe large majority (from Zawiyah to Tobruk!) of Libyans protesting have bad sources (West, Al Qaeda), do you think same of Tunisians, Eqyptians, Bahrainians, Yemenis, etc. Please step outside your ideologies and do some actual critical thinking. Thanks.

11-03-2011 Frank (usa)

He survves because he is protect by the jews and america, he can't be an arab killing his own people!!!!!!!!

11-03-2011

Why don't USA to help he rebel of Libya hurriedly because Gaddafi side will retaliate violently and the rebel group will be in hardship situation.

11-03-2011 Drummelll (Canada)

The rebels are killing their own people using them as human shields.why dont they go out of the citys and fight,they know innocent people will die if they fight inside citys and towns,plus do we really need another Irak.now more people die in a month unber saddam it was a year. As for the USA remember elction time is coming around so they have washed their hands and quite correct,

12-03-2011 suzie (usa)

uh last time i checked women are still not equal with men in any country so i dont want to hear how it will change in a democratic anywhere.

12-03-2011 SMITH (USA)

LONG LIVE KADHAFI!!! WE, STUPID WESTERNERS, DON'T UNDESTAND THAT ANTI-KADDFI FORCES ARE AS MUCH TERRORISTS (OR WORSE) THEN KADHAFI HIMSELF.

12-03-2011 Merlin (USA)

In America, it is time to close the "Doors of Janus." The 3rd world is nothing but, tyranny! Nearly every country of Africa, the Muslim world, China (the last colonial empire), many other Asian nations, and some Latin American countries are tyrannies. Is the USA supposed to provide them all with material and military support?

12-03-2011 Alex (Australia)

Everyone hits at the usa. I can understand the US being cautious because in everyones eyes it can do no right. This is difficult to understand because on balance it has done more to help than any country in the world.

12-03-2011 Thomas PD (India)

It all showing that only one that is second coming of Jesus Christ , go through the Bible

12-03-2011 BANABE (NIGERIA)

It's all written in the air that the lybyan people don't want ghadafi and his dictatorship any more, let the UN,AU and EU find measures on how to tackle this problem once and for all, his a devil he wants to destroy everything before he leaves, let this bodies find solution to this problem, the are able and capable of bringing solutions to cases like this.

12-03-2011 BANABE (NIGERIA)

It's all written in the air that the lybyan people don't want ghadafi and his dictatorship any more, let the UN,AU and EU find measures on how to tackle this problem once and for all, his a devil he wants to destroy everything before he leaves, let this bodies find solution to this problem, the are able and capable of bringing solutions to cases like this.

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