Libyan Revolution Tweets Part 6

evanchill Evan Hill
by acarvin
Human Rights Watch has vastly increased their #Libya death count. They say total number of killed is now 84. #feb17 Expected this.
6 hours ago

Libya protests: 'Terror and bribery are blunt tools now'
Author Hisham Matar pleads with Muammar Gaddafi to hold his troops back

Hisham Matar
guardian.co.uk, Friday 18 February 2011 20.50 GMT

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The regime became nervous, promising students a large number of generous scholarships abroad. Then it vowed to increase salaries.

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On the 16th, a day before the planned protests, Libyan's could no longer wait. They went out in Benghazi. There was a palpable fear that the hot-blooded second city was going it alone, that the few thousand protesters were lambs going to slaughter. Their courage seemed unimaginable.

Late that night one of the Benghazi protestors posted a video on YouTube. He looked tired. His voice was hoarse.

"To my brothers in Tripoli," he said, "we can't do this alone."

...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/2011/feb/18/libya-protest-hisham-matar-comment

PJCrowley Philip J. Crowley
#Libya continues to restrict outside communications but it cannot hide the mounting death toll as it cracks down on peaceful protesters.
1 hour ago

I am deeply concerned by reports of violence in Bahrain, Libya and Yemen. The United States condemns the use of violence by governments against peaceful protesters in those countries and wherever else it may occur. We express our condolences to the family and friends of those who have been killed during the demonstrations. Wherever they are, people have certain universal rights including the right to peaceful assembly. The United States urges the governments of Bahrain, Libya and Yemen to show restraint in responding to peaceful protests, and to respect the rights of their people.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2011/02/obama-statement-on-bahrain.html

from: Libyan Youth Movement on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Libyan-Youth-Movement/133738650025293?v=wall


Alaa Badi (on facebook):

Message: Libyans are getting massacred while most of the world does nothing. The border with Egypt is now free and manned by citizens!!!!!! Libyans are begging for help. Egyptian brothers have already crossed the border. Please my Egyptian peeps get the word out in Egypt and beyond.

The Egypt numbers organizing this are ####, ####.

They need medical aid, food, water, blood donations (mainly A- and B- ).



http://pad.telecomix.org/kejgibum

Citizens patrol Benghazi streets
‘Libyan Arab republic' formed in liberated area.
By Duraid Al Baik, Associate EditorPublished: 00:00 February 20, 2011

Dubai: Libyans set up neighbourhood patrols in the shaken eastern city of Benghazi on Saturday as police disappeared from the streets following an attack by government forces on a two-day-old encampment of protesters demanding an end to Muammar Gaddafi's regime, eyewitnesses said.

The situation in the North African nation has become increasingly chaotic, according to reports reaching here.
Meanwhile, the opposition in eastern Libya announced the formation of a ‘Libyan Arab Republic' in what they claimed the liberated part of the country.

A spokesman for the revolutionists, Libyan Youth, said they hoisted the old tri-colour flag with a white crescent and star on public buildings in Benghazi, Al Bayda and Darna after police and security forces joined the revolution on Friday.

Amr Sa'ad, son of Sa'ad Abu Baker — one of the officers in the 1969 revolution along with Gaddafi, told Gulf News from Darna that nothing will allow Gaddafi's forces to return to the eastern part of the country. "The only fear is if Gaddafi uses chemical weapons to reoccupy the cities in the eastern part of the country. We call on the world to watch Gaddafi because he is in a desperate situation and might do anything to stay in power."

...

http://gulfnews.com/news/region/libya/citizens-patrol-benghazi-streets-1.764586

Gaddafi fights for his future as up to 200 die in Benghazi
Regime accused of hiring foreign mercenaries as clashes between supporters and pro-democracy demonstrators in the country's second city escalate

By Andrew Johnson and Susie Mesure
Sunday, 20 February 2011


Gaddafi pictured with the African Union flag at a Silvio Berlusconi speech last August

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The widespread violence on Friday culminated in at least 35 deaths, according to Human Rights Watch. The New York-based watchdog said its tally was now 84 after three days of violence. The Benghazi-based Quryna newspaper, reportedly linked to one of Colonel Gaddafi's sons, said 24 were killed. Other reports put the body count higher, with as many as 200 dead and more than 1,000 hurt.

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However, experts admitted the British Government and business interests were watching the situation closely. BP declined to comment on the situation last night but said it was concerned for its 140 employees in Libya. Security experts said all UK companies in Libya had contingency plans if the uprising spread.

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Critics claim that British economic interests in Libya had muted support for the uprising there. British exports to Libya have risen to more than £400m and are set to increase dramatically as oil and gas investments by Shell and BP develop. Britain halted military exports to Libya last week but sniper rifles, which may have killed protesters yesterday, were amongst equipment exported to Tripoli last year.

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He denied UK economic interests in the country would compromise the official response. "It is very much in the UK's political and security interest to work with Libya," he said.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/gaddafi-fights-for-his-future-as-up-to-200-die-in-benghazi-2220131.html

4,121 have donated. Help us get to 10,000

Across the Middle East -- in Bahrain, Libya, Yemen, and more countries every day, autocratic regimes are trying to crush unprecedented peaceful protests with brutality and blackouts.

Avaaz is working urgently to "blackout-proof" the protests -- with secure satellite modems and phones, tiny video cameras, and portable radio transmitters, plus expert support teams on the ground -- to enable activists to broadcast live video feeds even during internet and phone blackouts.

The window for us to deliver this help is closing fast, as regimes are moving quickly to choke off borders and internet connections. Small donations from 10,000 of us would fund critical technology and support teamsfor those who need it most. Let’s all chip in -- donate now:

To donate through , click here.

For information about donating by cheque, click here

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/blackout_proof_the_protests/?fp

Petition to the UN: Send help to Libya!
Posted on February 20, 2011 by admin
To: United Nations

People of the world, please do not stand by and let Muamar Gaddafi Kill the people of Libya for merely trying to voice their request for Democracy, as many countries have done successfully. By signing this petition you are urging the United Nations to intervene, and to do the best they can convince Muamar Gaddafi to step down as the leader of Libya. Medical Aid is requested, as is media coverage in Libya. Gaddafi will massacre the masses if we remain silent. Please act quickly, time is of the Essence.

http://www.libyafeb17.com/?p=1065

Tony Blair our very special adviser by dictator Gaddafi's son
By NABILA RAMDANI, TIM SHIPMAN and PETER ALLEN
Last updated at 4:40 AM on 5th June 2010

Comments (44)

Tony Blair has become an adviser to Colonel Gaddafi, the Libyan dictator's son has sensationally claimed.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi said the former prime minister has secured a consultancy role with a state fund that manages the country's £65billion of oil wealth.

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Personal friends? Tony Blair meets Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi at his desert base

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Saif suggested Mr Blair was involved in 'Africa projects' with his father, alleging: 'He also has some consultancy role with the Libyan Investment Authority.'

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For us, he is a personal family friend. I first met him around four years ago at Number 10. Since then I've met him several times in Libya where he stays with my father. He has come to Libya many, many times.

...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1284132/Tony-Blair-special-adviser-dictator-Gaddafis-son.html#ixzz1ETiiUnwP

Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi doesn't want to 'bother' Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi

From: AFP February 20, 2011 9:32AM


ITALIAN Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said Saturday he will not "bother" Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, a close friend, who faces an unprecedented challenge to his rule.

"I haven't heard from him," Berlusconi told reporters when asked whether he had been in contact with the Libyan strongman after human rights sources claimed Gaddafi's security forces killed more than 80 anti-regime protesters.

"The situation is not clear, so I will not bother anybody," ANSA news agency quoted him as saying.

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Italy and oil-rich Libya, a former Italian colony, signed a friedship treaty in 2008 to further strengthen economic ties and fight clandestine immigration via the North African country.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/italian-pm-silvio-berlusconi-doesnt-want-to-bother-libyan-leader-muammar-gaddafi/story-e6frf7k6-1226008888466

AUDIO (Arabic)

“I am Moftah Saleh from Libya. I am in a prison. The police are attacking us, they have thrown tear gas cannisters. I am appealing for Humans Rights Watch to come and rescue us, get us out of here. We are appealing for Human Rights Watch to help us. They will kill us. They have killed ten people, and they have said nothing about this in the media. I am a prisoner inside the prison. I can’t say which prison, they are listening in on the phones. They will kill us here, with tear gas and live bullets. They killed ten yesterday and two this morning.

http://alive.in/libya/2011/02/19/i-am-in-a-prison/

Dear Arabs: A Letter from Western Leaders

Dear Arab People,

Please can you stop protesting now. We thought it was kind of cute when it was Tunisia. We were ok with losing Ben Ali, in general strategic terms, Tunisia is pretty much small fry. Also, it looked good when President Obama was able to praise the Tunisian people in his State of the Union Address. Made it look as if we actually believe you should have democracy and freedom of speech. However, you took it too far when you decided to get rid of Mubarak and refuse our halfway measure of putting Omar Suleiman as his successor.

Now you’re really taking the piss. I mean Bahrain – are you shitting us? It’s home to the US Fifth Fleet and, in the words of David Mellor, is a ‘stalwart friend’ of the UK. Are you trying to freak us out – I mean for goodness sake, most of the population are Shi’a! Next thing you know, Iran will be in charge and causing all kinds of problems. As for Libya, seriously? Did you have to wait until Qaddafi was a friend? You couldn’t have done this back in the 1980s when he was causing us all sorts of problems. You continue to protest in Yemen as if this poor ally isn’t trying to help us deal with al-Qaeda. And we hear that protests have taken place in Saudi Arabia and are due in Kuwait. This really is starting to mess with our minds. We’re even having to watch Al-Jazeera English which is very damaging (hence why no American cable network will carry it – what will happen if Americans turn over by accident from Fox)

Now, you’ve had your fun and you’ve even had your major victory in Egypt. Now, you can all go back home and stop trying to demand the same rights that our populations enjoy in the West. You have to remember that without a western friendly dictator in charge, you will make the wrong decisions. You already have the best things that our populations enjoy – Arabs Got Talent. It would be best for all if you finished with this ‘freedom’ phase and concentrate instead on willing your favourite act to win.

Yours sincerely,

The Western Leaders

*This post was inspired by David Mellor’s interview on the Radio 4 Today Programme which was fairly breathtaking. I’ve linked it in to this post.

http://ummissa.wordpress.com/2011/02/19/dear-arabs-a-letter-from-western-leaders/

Mellor: Bahrain 'a stalwart friend' of UK

AUDIO

Former Conservative cabinet minister David Mellor has urged "mature reflection" before Britain rushes to judgement on the protests in Bahrain.

Speaking to Today presenter Justin Webb, he said the Iranian influence on opposition leaders should be taken into account before UK strategy was decided.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9400000/9400471.stm

Internet has reportedly been cut off once again in Libya. According to Massachusetts-based Arbor Networks Internet traffic in and out of the country came to an abrupt halt again on Saturday Feb 19 22:00 GMT.

http://thenextweb.com/2011/02/19/internet-restored-in-libya-after-6-hours-offline/

RaraZizi RT @abdu: BREAKING: Al-Fadhil Brigade building in #Benghazi has fallen. This is the last base and the ppl are in control of Benghazi. #Libya 6 minutes ago via web