With reference to the article entitled Protesters Hoist Independence Flag On Libyan Embassy In Balzan (March 2), the Police Department wishes to clarify the exact sequence of events that ensued in front of the Libyan Embassy on Tuesday.

At about noon, there were some 25 protesters gathered in front of the embassy. At 12.20 p.m., an employee of the embassy appeared outside the embassy and, while calling three of the protesters by name, she informed them the Ambassador wished to speak with them. The three protesters, one of whom was carrying the pre-Gaddafi flag, walked inside the embassy accompanied by the embassy employee. This meeting with the Ambassador lasted for about one hour.

At about 1.43 p.m., the three protesters accompanied by the Ambassador exited the main door of the embassy and, while still in the front garden of the embassy, two of the protesters who were with the Ambassador were seen opening the pre-Gaddafi flag and keeping it stretched for the benefit of the other protesters and the media present.

A few minutes later, the Ambassador was seen pointing at the main iron gate to these protesters, following which two of them climbed the main iron gate and stretched the pre-Gaddafi flag across the gate for some time. Subsequently, still in the presence of the Ambassador, one of the protesters was observed scaling one of the columns and made his way up to the balcony where he started waving the pre-Gaddafi flag and then spreading it across the balcony.

A second protester was then observed following suit and also made his way to the balcony by scaling a column and, together with the other protester, climbed up to the roof and, while removing the green flag, which they threw onto the front garden of the embassy, they hoisted the pre-Gaddafi flag assisted by one of the embassy security officers. While one of the protesters descended from the façade of the embassy, the other protester accompanied by the embassy security officer went inside the embassy and exited from the main front door.

During this incident, the police made contact with embassy officials to verify whether they wanted the police to intervene and stop this activity but were informed that the Ambassador was aware of all that was happening and had given his consent as regards the changing of the flag hoisted on the roof of the Libyan Embassy.