BENGHAZI, Libya |
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - Libyans celebrated the liberation of the east of the country from the rule of Muammar Gaddafi, who has vowed to crush the revolt and on Wednesday was trying to assert his grip on the capital Tripoli, in the west.Lying between Egypt and Tunisia, where a wave of Arab unrest has unseated two veteran presidents, the desert nation of six million which Gaddafi has ruled for 41 years seemed split in two, trapping thousands of foreign workers, jeopardizing oil exports and raising fears of tribal conflict and civil war.
The United States, which once branded Gaddafi a "mad dog" but had joined European powers in reconciliation to exploit Libya's oil wealth, said it might impose sanctions to help end violence which one European minister said may have killed 1,000.
President Barack Obama, who lacks the influence in Libya that U.S. aid gives him over some other Arab states, called for international unity to end the violence. He did not say Gaddafi should go, but said he would be held accountable for any abuses.
"It is imperative that the nations and peoples of the world speak with one voice," Obama told reporters at the White House in his first public comments on the 10-day-old revolt. "The suffering and bloodshed is outrageous," he said.
BENGHAZI REJOICES
Other foreign leaders, who also embraced Gaddafi, and his oil, after decades of isolating a leader who aided militants around the world, also voiced concern at the level of violence, which has included aerial bombing in parts of some cities.
Differences over how to proceed, some driven by concern not to jeopardize the safety of foreigners caught up in the trouble, appear to limit prospects for immediate, concerted international action, although some analysts have suggested that even military force might be applied to protect the rebel east from Gaddafi.
France called outright for sanctions. Obama said he would look at a "full range of options." U.S. officials said sanctions were among those being considered.
In the eastern city of Benghazi, cradle of the uprising and home to tribes long hostile to the 68-year-old leader, thousands filled the streets, lighting fireworks and waving the red, black and green flag of the king Colonel Gaddafi overthrew in 1969.
"We have been suffering for 41 years," said 45-year-old Hamida Muftah. "Gaddafi has killed people ... We are a very rich country, but most of the people are poorer than poor."
A local medical official said about 320 had been killed in Benghazi since protests against oppression and poverty began.
Libya's Quryna newspaper quoted a military source as saying a bomber crew bailed out and left their aircraft to crash rather than bomb Benghazi. Earlier in the week, two pilots flew their planes to Malta to avoid, they said, attacking their own people.
At the Egyptian border, officials loyal to Gaddafi had gone and local committees were, being organized across eastern towns to provide services, local people said. A lack of organized opposition groups in Libya may make any transition difficult.Read More
No comments:
Post a Comment