Reports of 200 Dead: Libyan Forces Open Fire on Mourners at Funeral for Slain Protesters
- Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:07am by
Emily Esfahani Smith
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CAIRO (AP/THE BLAZE) — Libyan forces fired machine-guns at mourners marching in a funeral for anti-government protesters in the eastern city of Benghazi Sunday, a day after commandos and foreign mercenaries loyal to longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi pummeled demonstrators with assault rifles and other heavy weaponry.
A doctor at one city hospital said his morgue had received at least 200 dead from six days of unrest.
The doctor said his hospital, one of two in Libya’s second-largest city, is out of supplies and cannot treat more than 70 wounded in similar attacks on mourners Saturday and other clashes.
“We are in a big massacre, please, please help us,” one unidentified protester told Al Jazeera English, below.
The crackdown in oil-rich Libya is shaping up to be the most brutal repression of anti-government protests that began with uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. The protests spread quickly around the region to Bahrain in the Gulf, impoverished Yemen in the Arabian Peninsula, the North African neighbors of Tunisia – Libya, Algeria, Morocco – and outside the Middle East to places including the East African nation of Djibouti and even China.
Libya‘s rebellion by those frustrated with Gadhafi’s more than 40 years of authoritarian rule has spread to more than a half-dozen cities. Benghazi has been at the center of unrest.
But getting reliable information about the chaotic situation is difficult. Journalists cannot work freely. Information about the uprising has come through telephone interviews, along with videos and messages posted online, and through opposition activists in exile.
In a Saturday report, the official Libyan news agency said authorities have arrested “dozens of foreign elements trained to strike at Libya’s stability and security.” It said an investigation already was under way. It also said authorities were not ruling out that those elements were connected to what it called an Israeli plot to destabilize countries in North Africa, including Libya, as well as Lebanon and Iran.
Before Saturday’s violence, Human Rights Watch estimated at least 84 people had been killed.
Jamal Eddin Mohammed, a 53-year old resident of Benghazi, said thousands marched Sunday toward the city’s cemetery to bury at least a dozen protesters. They feared more clashes with the government when they passed by Gadhafi‘s residential palace and the regime’s local security headquarters.
“Everything is behind that (Gadhafi) compound; hidden behind wall after wall. The doors open and close and soldiers and tanks just come out, always as a surprise, and mostly after dark,” he told The Associated Press by telephone.
A man shot in the leg Sunday said marchers were carrying coffins to a cemetery and were passing by the compound when security forces fired in the air and then opened up on the crowd.
The latest violence in Benghazi followed the same pattern as the crackdown on Saturday, when witnesses said forces loyal to Gadhafi attacked mourners at a funeral for anti-government protesters. They were burying 35 marchers who were slain Friday by government forces.
The doctor at a Benghazi hospital said at least one person was killed by gunshots during the funeral march, and 14 were injured, including five in serious condition. He spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, as did several other witnesses in Libya. He said some of the latest casualties were hit by machine gun fire.
On Saturday, witnesses told The Associated Press a mix of special commandos, foreign mercenaries and Gadhafi loyalists assaulted demonstrators in Benghazi with knives, assault rifles and other heavy weapons.
On Sunday, defiant mourners chanted: “The people demand the removal of the regime,” which became a mantra for protesters in Egypt and Tunisia.
The U.S.-based Arbor Networks reported another Internet service outage in Libya just before midnight Saturday night. The company says online traffic ceased in Libya about 2 a.m. Saturday, was restored at reduced levels several hours later, only to be cut off again that night.
People in Libya also said they can no longer make international telephone calls on their land lines.
Abdullah said smaller protests were staged Saturday night on the outskirts of the capital Tripoli, a stronghold of support for Gadhafi, but demonstrators were quickly dispersed by security men. Besides Tripoli and Benghazi, the U.S. State Department in a travel warning to American citizens listed five other cities that have seen demonstrations.
Supporters of the Libyan uprising also demonstrated in Switzerland and in Washington on Saturday, waving flags and burning Gadhafi’s photo.
In Egypt, exiled Libyans and members of the country’s Press Syndicate have sent urgent medical supplies to Libya. Ayman Shawki, a lawyer in the Egyptian border town of Matrouh, said members of the powerful Awllad Ali tribe whose members live in the border area have volunteered to move the supplies to Libya.




















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Comments (81)
PelositheGreat
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 3:29pmInteresting. Anyone else see this?
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=206845628878227231839.00049c9414fdcdc29d66c&ll=17.644022,-39.902344&spn=127.694932,270.527344&z=3
Report Post »ZaphodsPlanet
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:40pmWorthless Google Commies….. wouldn’t be surprised if they were chipping in cash along with Soros to fund some of this madness around the world.
BTW…. 200 dead is going to seem like nothing by the end of the week. My guess is that Libya’s population is going to decrease by the number of protesters in the street. Wonder if any of the American/Soros commies will be caught in the crossfire. This is not going to be pretty. These people are going to die.
Report Post »PelositheGreat
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 3:28pmIS it just me, or are the same red, white and blue “hope” signs being used as they were in America. It would seem to be a huge coincidence that they came up with them and had them printed in such a short order. Seems like the community organizers are all the same…..
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 4:06pm@GRANNYATL….Islamism is only one of four principalities that gather the power at this time, We stand a much better chance of the red horse(communism) being our master. than Islamism( pale horse).
Report Post »After all is said and done, the United States of America apparently cannot even pay the INTEREST on what we OWE the chinese. That is a very weak position to be in. Zero bargaining power.
Max jones
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 4:10pmT he graphics are very crude. I could duplicate the poster with a photo, a razor blade, and four colors of spraypaint. It is merely the style that grabs the eye. The techniques are early Warhol. Nothing complicated.
Report Post »MONEY_FOR_NOTHING
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 3:15pmIf these people are living on a dollar a day, who bought the posters?
Report Post »wash1776
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 2:13pmWhen the so called leader of this country champions what is going on in Wisconsin and has people bussed in to help the union, that pretty much tells you where he stands. He is a communist that seems to admire Chavez, Gadhafi and other brutal leaders. Why is this? To cover his own butt? He sits on his skinny rear in the office and comes up with nothing constructive. He is a disgrace to this country. Gadhafi needs to be eliminated.
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 1:54pmIt is time O’bum renounces his Nobel Peace Prize. He is hiding behind a woman to voice his “concerns” about the violence in Libya, Yemen and Bahrain. Who gives a d@mn, left or right, Mr. Present!
Report Post »Extremepatriot
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 1:44pmThis is how the Wisc Natl Gaurd needs to handle the Commies rioting in Madison.
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 1:42pmYou had the gall to compare yourself to Reagan, O’bum. So dare to take on Gaddafi like Reagan did in ’86, or STFU once ‘n for all, you pathetic nobody.
Report Post »Volsense
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 12:56pmIt will be interesting to see how instrumental the relationship between GOOGLE and Obama’s State Department is involved in these coordinated Middle East uprisings. Is it just a coincidence some of the signs in the middle East and Wisconsin are so similar in design or is this an orchestrated effort on an international level by the progressive labor movement that has the blessings of an American president and his political party to seize control while the power is there to take it? This could have major implications life changing proportions if this is a social war instead of domestic disputes.
Report Post »darlenekay
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 12:24pmPray for the good people of Libya and Yemen who long to be free. Stand up and condemn the American communist and socialist organizations who are over there reeking havoc. Shame on you!
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 12:15pmHow to get rid of the old world order! Elect a radical to break up the status quo of regimes that the US supports through its last 30-40 years of foreign policy. Do that with a simultaneous peoples revolution. My question is what will they change into? Secular or Radical Islamic Governments? I’m split on this! It maybe a combo of both coexisting until one does not need the other…then give em the boot. We are headed for ugly times because when all is said and done the US will practically be standing alone like Israel is today.
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 4:43pmHey chief ……take a look at the four horsemen. each of these is a principality, they are assuming power, now. Dividing the spoils and the population. They don’t necessarilly like or trust one another, but they will work together to get the people of the world under one governance,(for our own good). If it takes war, they are prepared. Nothing will be too violent if they meet resistance. Scary little devils.
Report Post »Its Gonna Getcha
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 12:10pmPraying for the thousands of family members affected by this in Libya. To the people of Libya, if you happen to read this, peace to you all. Justice for you all. Sometimes leaders envy God’s loving power so much, that they do much more harm than good. Surrounding you all with loving light.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 12:09pmHey Blaze
If you don’t want people to post comments, Just put the heading on the main page.
Report Post »thetang
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 12:08pmSigns printed in English can only mean one evil dude is at work?
Report Post »dcwu
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 12:06pmRevolutions usually end with a dictator in power. If the previous dictator is Machivillian enough he crushes the revolt and stays in power. Otherwise he is deposed and a new Machivillian dictator rises to power. The American Revolution seems unique in history. We should thank God above that George Washington stepped down.
Report Post »Noyo
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 11:14amMakes me wonder about us her in the U.S. when you see and hear about people in Lybian with real issues and problems. Then see and hear goverment employees in Wisconsin demonstrating in the streets because a broke bankrupt government is asking them to pay a small percentage of their income for their own health insurance and retirement.
I worked for the government for thirty years and was and still am glad to pay a percentage of my income for health insurance. And I hope and pray the day would come that everyone would have what I have health insurance. That can happen when we are all pay our fair share on the cost. No one should have a free ride just because they are members of a strong union.
Report Post »Dobodura
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 11:08amWe haven’t heard a peep from Gadhafi since 1986 when Reagan corroborated with Margaret Thatcher to send the F-14‘s through the front door of Moammar’s “tent”, killing one of his sons. Too bad our present POTUS doesn’t have the “intestinal fortitude” to respond to “thugs” in the same manner.
Report Post »shorthanded12
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 11:03amHow soon will we see unrest within Russia? China will be taken down by its own people, you can surpress people for so long and in the end its called “THE BOILING POINT”. Union strikes in this country is olny the begining for us. The minority in this country (not referring race either) trying to ram there way of entitlement life on the backs of the rest of us will only be tolarated for so long.
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 4:28pmThe vast majority of Chinese have never had it so good as they do right now.. Livable income trumps other conditions, especially in times like these. Plus the rulers make gadhafi look like a ***** cat when it comes to ruthlessness
Report Post »mikenleeds
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 11:02amthis is a idea ,, if your country is so poor you should stop breeding like rabbits and expecting everyone else to pay for it ,, china has the right idea when it comes to having children…
Report Post »lasthouseontheright
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:45amI belive that even here in America we will soon see these same kind of orginized protests of which those in Wisconsin may be the first of many to come.
Report Post »MaggieRose
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:34amSo, so sad… no wonder everyone wants to come to America, where we (usually) can demonstrate in the streets peacefully… People forget that in brutal dictatorships you can’t protest! We need to cling to our freedom like a drowning person clings to their dying breath…
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:30amThis nonsense is being whipped up by those who cannot comprehend what they do and what causes they advance. While many believe these are protest against tyrants, they are actually a rejection of the West and our civilization, and an embrace of Islamic culture.
Watch as even more radical Islamic forces speed the Jihad throughout the Middle East.
Watch. In the near future, unexplainable acts of violent “terrorism” will begin appearing in areas most do not think of as “Islamic”.
The Global Jihad is here.
Report Post »Rubyruby
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 4:40pmI agree. The distant future looks to be full or chaos and turmoil with this radical Islam at the helm of all of it.
Report Post »RN MOM
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:27amNow that’s a sick and depraved culture! Military shooting mourners, picking them off like ducks on a pond. They definitely have thuggery and terrorism down to a science. I would be more impressed by Libya if they used their wealth and influence to raise their citizens up. Instead they do as other nations do, suppress their workforce so a select few can live in opulence.
Report Post »starman70
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:59amAll courtesy of the “Peace loving” religion of Islam.
Report Post »lionslayer44
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 2:55pmthe govt. gunning down protesters is what happens when the citizens have no gun rights!!!! God forbid but if this ever happened here the protesters would probably take up arms against the tyrannical govt. My biggest fear is that this is where we are heading!! collect food, water, ammo. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:16amAnd now Moammar pets his camel, pleased at the work of his security forces. Behind him, a harem of crossed-dressed boys giggle through their veils, giddy with the anticipation of their great Moammar’s attentions and affections.
Report Post »Another fine day in Libya.
what4
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:29amOMG To Funny!
Report Post »912828Buckeye
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 11:09amHaviing trouble tyyping for the tears in my eyes! :-DDD
Report Post »912828Buckeye
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 11:13amSorry about that, defenseless people being gunned down is not funny,
Report Post »but I sure thought your comment was.
chirodoc007
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:13amKind of reminds me of Spiderman 2 when Spidey decided that he would no longer fight for justice. Chaos!
Report Post »chirodoc007
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:11amThis is what happens when dictators no longer fear and respect the United States of America.
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:20amLook at the poster that the man in the last photo is holding. That is almost identical to the look of the iconic Obama poster. You can’t convince me that this is an isolated group of protests around the Middle East. Someone created these posters outside of that environment and shipped them in. Can you say Soros?
What was that 5-point Soros plan that Beck layed out??? Create victim groups and unrest and then riots.
As Beck says, the world is on fire.
Report Post »Stu Burguiere
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:24amSnowleopard, could you please recheck your post number tally for the week? Glenn is asking us to tighten our belts due to a slide in the ratings and we can‘t be paying you for posts you didn’t make. Thanks snow.
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:31am“Someone created these posters outside of that environment and shipped them in. Can you say Soros?”
What brings you to that assumption? The Obama posters were incredibly iconic and are well-known throughout the world. We’re making fun of them here, why shouldn’t they?
Report Post »Miami
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:36amWhere’s Obama on this , here we’ve what seems to be a counter to the Islamist wave sweeping the middle east. I wonder if they’ll get the same support as the Muslim Brotherhood…?
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:46amSorry, Non-S, but the quality of that poster tells me that this was no spontaneous protest. It was planned. What group has said their aim is to bring down countries by fomenting resentment and encouraging riots? Soros.
Report Post »Creestof
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:52amWe should send in B-52 bombers armed with millions of shoes…and pummel every last sole with Air Jordans.
Or go with Becks Pork Bombs…either way works for me.
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 11:10amGee. What a surprise. Who could have predicted this kind of response to a protest of a dictatorial regime?
Report Post »Rogue
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 12:03pmhuh – the same Libya who is part of the UN’s human rights council? Shocking. I’m glad to see the UN has time to condemn the building of homes in Israel, but I‘m guessing they don’t have the guts to condemn Libya for mass murder.
Are Obama and Clinton calling for a “peaceful transistion of power” yet? Oh right, Libya isn’t an ally, so we are too scared to back one side or another.
Report Post »hud
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 12:07pmMonkey see, monkey do. What’s so hard about that?
Report Post »BigBouy
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 12:21pmRight on!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 12:26pmEither way, the line has been crossed and the fuse lit; it only now remains to be seen how much and how far the damage will reach in regard to the people and the nation of Libya.
Report Post »Miami
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 12:29pmWho would have thought the phony freedom promoted by Leftist and Islamist might turnout to backfire on them. Inspiringly freedom seekers to come out from under the thumb Islamist dictators like Gadhafi’s or even Iran’s Mullahs…
Report Post »Miami
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 12:33pmWow Britain’s Foreign Secretary came out and bashed Libya for killing the protesters.
And what do we hear from our administration….? Crickets….
Report Post »bullcrapbuster
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 1:06pmTrouble is, that in most of these Arab countries one side is as bad as the other.
Report Post »chirodoc007
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 1:36pmOnce the other dictators in the region realize that there is no push-back for using real bullets instead of rubber bullets these crowds will be crushed. Hold on to your seats.
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 1:42pmMiami, you’re kidding yourself if you believe that the riots in Libya or in Iran have anything to do with peace-loving inhabitants who are looking to establish a western-type “Democracy.” They are being led by a well-coordinated group of thugs who preach peace and democracy in their ears while checking off one more country that has fallen into chaos at their hands. They have no intention of allowing true Democracy to reign — they willl sweep in when the time is right and replace the current leadership with their own. And that leadership will be no democracy.
Watch what is happening now in Egypt. The people vehemently opposed the Muslim Brotherhood, yet just Friday there was a huge gathering to listen to the Muslim Brotherhood’s most popular Mullah speak in Tahrir Square. Watch…..a Caliphate is in the works.
Report Post »Loyal9
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 2:35pm@granyatl You are EXACTLY right!
Report Post »Kalish
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 2:44pmAh 200 dead in Libya, Dozens of Chinese Activists in Jasmine Revolution Go Missing, Detained,
Report Post »Isn’t socialism and communism wonderful ? Oh libya is known as the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Max jones
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 3:46pmThe nations are jockeying for the best seats at the global table. The regimes that are fighting back are probably not among the chosen few. They will be swallowed up. Gadhafi sees the writing on the wall
Report Post »Obama is at the core of the chaos. This is HIS revolution. As soon as it looked like the the REAL American (conservative) majority was coming out of its stupor and making its will be known, all this crap started, This is the tyranny of the minority, writ large. Any of you blazers out there who think the people producing and directing this performance are stupid, foolish or clueless, better wake up to the fact that this is the work of EVIL GENIUS. A global cabal with their fingers in every pie and their agenda on the desk of every head of every major nation. Our foe from here on out is a supernatural being with supernatural staff and military.power. THIS IS NOT A DRILL!
Pray for Israel, for we are joined at the heart.
Max jones
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 4:13pmIs everybody trying to keep track of what “the other hand”is doing? You Know the game by now, stay alert.
Report Post »Rogue
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 4:51pmThe Blaze had another story posted for just a short time today, then it disappeared – it was saying that Iran has opened fire on protesters there as well. Not sure at this point if it is true, since it disappeared from the site rather quickly.
Regardless, the deafening silence from our State Dept and POTUS is sickening. They should have stayed out of it in Egypt, but should be all-in when it comes to the overthrow of our enemies in the Middle East. If you want to win the hearts and minds of the people on the street, you back them fully against these regimes, and openly offer help to form free and fair elections. Our foreign policy has become an embarrassment. Clinton has time to call Israeli settlements illegitimate, but they can’t be bothered to make a statement about Libya and Iran, where protesters are being slaughtered?
The only possible explanation is that our Adminstration is sold on the idea of a Caliphate being a good thing. As long as the regime is Islamist or socialist, we don’t care what they do to stay in power, apparently.
Report Post »Sgt.Crust
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 6:24pmUnfortunately, it looks like Ack-mad-dinner-jackt’s plan is working all too well, now isn’t that special!
Report Post »Miami
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:34pmGrannyATL, Loyal9
What you seem to be missing is the fact that those two countries governments ( Libya, Iran ) are the instigators in the riots in other countries. To deny that those riots have been forced by Islamist is as foolish to not recognizing that the riots in these two countries are a backlash toward freedom.
You don’t have riots in Iran or Libya asking for more tyrannical rule…
Report Post »Mikeyyy
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 11:53pmLooks like the Arab nations are getting tired of evil dictators. But even worse is how our President has zero foreign policy. He did nothing in all of the unrest so far. He broke his promise to get us out of Iraq. In fact, he increase our presence in Afgan.
I’m so impressed with his status quo, that I’m willing to bet he will do NOTHING about the slaughter and murder in Libya. Does anyone want to be against me?
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 12:43amMiami, seriously, it only looks that way. In each of the riots, from Tunisia and Egypt to those in Iran and Libya, the battle cry is the same – they want “democracy.” Each country has their own oppressive government that the people want to be free of. The problem is that the almost simultaneous riots are not an accident. Each country has a group of handlers (for lack of a better word) that is quietly urging them to protest, using buzzwords that will appeal and incite each particular group’s inner frustrations.
They are all being led to riot in order to create simultaneous chaos across a wide area. This creates international instability.
It’s choreographed. It’s not random. While the political climate in Egypt and Jordan are a far cry better for their inhabitants than the likes of those in Libya and Iran, the bottom line is the same. The citizens are unhappy and there is a group of people who has infiltrated the younger groups to agitate them. At the right time, each infiltrating group can pull the trigger in their respective countries to begin the process of hyper-agitation and then step in as the “savior” when the dust settles.
Iran and Libya will not topple easily, to be sure, because their brutality is swift and thorough. Their residents are far less educated with far less ability to protect themselves.
But don’t for a minute think that these are two separate and distinctly different types of choas. The puppets behind the rent-a-thugs don’t particularly care about the how and why — they just want the chaos so they can swoop in and present the leader who will bring “peace” to the region.
And the Caliphate can then become reality.
Report Post »Sinista Mace
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 7:22pmThis why Obama wants our guns.
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