A number of Maltese this morning threatened to walk away from an anti-Gaddafi protest in Valletta after Graffitti activists turned up with posters showing Col Gaddafi and Lawrence Gonzi embracing each other.

The posters carried messages which said: "Gonzi, Muscat, shame for courting a dictator".

A number of Maltese, including Lou Bondi and Daphne Caruana Galizia protested immediately. Some of the placards were reluctantly taken down, although a few remained. Some of the Libyan organisers also asked for the placards to be removed, but the activists said it was their right to carry them.

The activists eventually moved to the back of the group and the demonstration - by some 150 Maltese and Libyans - started its way down Republic Street, with those taking part shouting anti-Gaddafi slogans and calling for freedom. No one appeared to have left.

Those taking part in the demo include Nationalist MPs Charlo' Bonnici and Beppe Fenech-Adami.

Dr Gonzi had a meeting with Col Gaddafi in Tripoli on February 8, just before the unrest started in Libya.

Dr Muscat met Col Gaddafi on August 3 last year.

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