National
Libyan embassy cuts ties with Gaddafi, as Australia considers evacuations
- From: The Australian
- February 22, 2011
THE Libyan embassy in Canberra has severed ties with the Gaddafi regime after its ambassador's meeting with Australian government officials today.
The embassy's cultural counsellor Omran Zwed condemned the violence in his homeland, saying: “We represent the Libyan people and no longer the Libyan regime.”
Protesters at the embassy in Canberra, who earlier destroyed a portrait of Muammar Gaddafi they had removed from the building, were delighted by the announcement, crying “Allah Akbar”, The Australian reports.
Libya's ambassador Musbah Allafi met with Department of Foreign Affairs first assistant secretary David Stuart this morning.
The ambassador's move came as the Gillard government said it was considering evacuating Australians from Libya.
Earlier, protesters removed a portrait of Gaddafi from the Libyan embassy, smashing it on the road outside and beating it with their shoes.
Emotions ran high at the protest, with about 40 members of Australia's Libyan community loudly voicing their support for democracy protesters at home as the Libyan government cracks down on dissent.
One protester, the lone woman of the group, went inside the embassy after knocking on the door. She returned with the embassy's official portrait of the nation's embattled leader.
The framed picture was thrown on the ground and set upon as Australian Federal Police officers watched.
The protesters chanted: “Our brothers, our sisters, are dying for no reason. They are bombed by aeroplanes.”
Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the department of foreign affairs had upgraded its travel advice for Libya to “do not travel”.
Read more about the Libyan embassy severing ties with the Gaddafi regime at The Australian.
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