Maltese people were yesterday advised against non-essential travel to Libya’s eastern coastal region of Cyrenacia, as violence, particularly in Benghazi, continued to escalate and the known death toll climbed to more than 200 by the evening.
Meanwhile, the Libyan government issued a stern warning to the EU, saying it would “suspend cooperation” in the fight against illegal immigration if the bloc “continues to encourage pro-democracy protests”.
Although the violence was centred in Eastern Libya, even Maltese people working in the capital city Tripoli, which is said to be “relatively quiet”, are reported to be packing their bags amid fears that the unrest around the country may spread. The government advised against travel to the cities of Benghazi, Ajdabiya, Al Marj, Al Bayda, Darnah and Tubruq.
Information is scarce because foreign press are not being allowed in the country.
Meanwhile, Austria sent a military plane to Malta in the afternoon to prepare for the evacuation of Austrian and other EU nationals from Libya or other Arab countries. Sources said a number of air ambulances passed through Malta’s airspace on the way to Libya.
Regime has blood on hands – Human Rights Watch
The situation in Tripoli is said to be “tense and volatile” but relatively quiet, and although shops are said to be closing early, day-to-day business is continuing as normal, albeit slower than usual. Small sporadic protests in Tripoli are taking place mostly at night but gunshots have not been reported.
The closest mass protests to the capital have been reported in Misratah, 200 kilometres east, where 12 protesters were shot at on Saturday. At least one person is believed to have been killed there.
In Benghazi, the situation is much more serious and some reports have claimed that soldiers were firing machine guns and other heavy weapons on protesting civilians.
Libyans have reported sporadic shots fired in the streets and, although the police and army are not constantly on the streets, people who get close to army barracks are reported to have been shot at indiscriminately.
“Benghazi is shut down, nothing is working,” a Libyan protester with links to Malta reported from Benghazi. When urged to stay indoors he said: “I cannot. We have to show that we don’t want him.”
Reports claim internet has been cut off in most parts of the country and SMS lines have also been disrupted, allowing only for government propaganda to be sent.
“Whatever you read in the news, multiply it by 10,” one employee of a Maltese company said.
Many Maltese are putting off travel plans for now and some Libyans working for Maltese companies are even preparing to travel to Malta until the unrest subsides.
“I would say that Maltese people who do not need to be here should not come,” one businessman said.
This was also the message of the Foreign Affairs Ministry which issued a statement last night as Minister Tonio Borg flew to Brussels for a meeting today with other foreign ministers to discuss recent developments in the region. However, Dr Borg did not comment on the human rights violations being reported.
Alternattiva Demokratika called on the Maltese government to take a stand on the “serious” situation in Libya together with its EU partners. “Unfortunately, it seems the Libyan authorities are using disproportionate force against the people. On the other hand, some have reacted by hanging three policemen loyal to the Gaddafi regime. Violence is to be condemned, whatever part it comes from.
“The PN and the PL should wake up from their multi-decennial servile attitude towards Muammar Gaddafi and condemn all acts of violence, which are totally unacceptable, while spurring the EU to make its voice heard.”
In Benghazi, Amnesty reported hospital sources saying most of the victims had been shot in the head, chest or neck, suggesting that the security forces had intended to kill them. Doctors said they were struggling to cope and running out of blood supplies and medicines to treat the wounded.
“It looks like Libya’s leader may have ordered his forces to put down the protests virtually at any cost, and that cost is being paid in the lives of Libyans,” Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International’s director for the Middle East and North Africa said.
“This is the bloodiest incident in the 40 years that Col Gaddafi has been in power. The regime has blood on its hands, and eventually somebody must be made to answer for killing peaceful demonstrators,” Human Rights Watch (HRW) spokesman Reed Brody told The Times.
HRW is in constant contact with people in the north African country and the death toll of protesters reported to HRW by hospital staff and sources in Libya reached 173.
Mr Brody, who recently visited the country, said the fighting have been centred mostly in eastern Libya. He confirmed the death of at least one protester in Misrata, to the West of Libya.
The government thought it would kill the protests but its actions seem to have backfired, Mr Brody added.