Libyans in Malta are smelling victory against Muammar Gaddafi’s regime as the fifth day of protests outside the embassy in Balzan saw them gaining confidence that the revolution would prevail.
“We will not stop protesting until we see that flag down and the ambassador resign,” Mohammed Hadood, one of some 70 anti-regime protesters, told The Times.
The green flag, synonymous with Col Gaddafi’s regime, was at the centre of events yesterday as it was rumoured that the embassy head of security, a relative of the dictator, had changed sides and would come to the embassy, lower the green flag and hoist the red, black and green flag associated with the Kingdom of Libya.
However, it appeared the man, Naman Said al Gaddafi, was reported to have changed his mind, and protesters were planning to turn against him if he did eventually turn up.
Protesters, who gathered outside the embassy at 11 a.m., left the area shortly after 5 p.m. A strong police presence guarded the embassy but, even though there were over 50 officers at one point, police sources admitted they were outnumbered most of the time.
During Friday prayers, Saddik Souqih said they prayed for Libya and “for a virus to kill Gaddafi or a bomb to kill him and his family”, along with the ritual prayers.
After the protest, news came in that worshippers at the mosque in Dahar had been shot at from the ground and from above. Protesters then cheered when they were told that a march was closing in on Tripoli, and that three quarters of the country was in the people’s hands.
Kamel Abdilgani, an Egyptian, was there in solidarity with the Libyans, with whom he could empathise as his country had suffered similarly under ousted President Hosni Mubarak.
“These six million people should be rich, they should not be coming to Malta to have a decent life; they should be living like the Maltese, but in Libya,” Mr Abdilgani said.
Libyans in Malta are becoming confident enough to give comments against the regime under their name, something which was unheard of a few days ago.
Agi Khalil, 39, called Col Gaddafi a devil for “becoming rich and leaving us poor. When he is removed from power we will find out how much damage he has been causing”.
Protesters also reported that Libyan telecoms company Libyana had been sending messages to people offering them $15,000 each to go out into the street and support Col Gaddafi.
“He said the revolution was because people are taking drugs. I think he and his family are taking drugs,” Walid Miladi said, making a snorting gesture.
“Libya is a rich country; it is a country where you would want to stay, not leave,” the man, who preferred to stay anonymous, said.
Also present were two British-Libyan boys, who were on holiday but joined the protests with their father.
“Gaddafi is killing all our brothers and sisters. I’m not disappointed I missed my holiday, because it’s helping my country,” Mohammed El Mezughi, nine, said.