Libya [translated]

Report: Gaddafi’s special forces executing doctors Feb17Voices have just translated and dubbed a telephone conversation with a contact in Libya who has stated that Gaddafi’s special forces are going into hospitals and executing doctors.

Live Blog - Libya

By Al Jazeera Staff in

Middle East

on February 20, 2011.

Citizen video reportedly shows protesters marching in the western coastal city of Misrata.

As protests in Libya enter their seventh day, following a "day of rage" on Thursday, we keep you updated on the developing situation from our headquarters in Doha, Qatar.

February 20 - (All times are local in Libya)

6:45pm Reports filtering in from the Reuters news agency that the Libyan consulate was set on fire by arsonists on Sunday. No one was hurt and the building was slight damanged.
5:05 pm US ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice tells NBC that the US is deeply concerned by the violence in Bahrain and Libya.

There's no place for violence against peaceful protesters ...what we're encouraging Bahrain and other governments in the region to do is to recognize that this is a yearning for change and reform that is not going to go away, that it needs to be respected and that they need to get ahead of it by leading rather than being pushed.

2:10 pm Here's a lengthy account provided by a 24-year-old student in Tripoli:

Here is what I know so far. In Zawiya reportedly two prisons were opened by anti-regime crowds, apparently because of low security there. I can confirm that the women's facility was opened. I also just found out that a friend's friend (male) who was imprisoned there was let out, so I guess that confirms the other.

The past few days in Trip have seen only pro-government events. Until yesterday, the biggest crowd was Thursday, when one of Q's sons and later Q himself showed up. On Friday, some of the Imams spoke against the protests and those 'who would corrupt the country and begin civil war.' Yesterday, from morning until about midnight, a crowd of easily one or two thousand people gathered in the green square. Several hundred, mostly young men, were on foot, while a few hundred cars packed with men and women continuously circled the square. Trucks would pull up periodically to distribute posters and green flags.

There was a music group leading chants and songs in favor of Q. Some of the chants were (translated) 'the people want ... colonel muammar', 'only god, muammar, and libya' and 'al-jazeera you fool, we want our leader, no one else'.

In the square, a strong security presence, including firetrucks in various positions, ambulances, and the occasional helicopter.

Yesterday, the ambulances turned on their sirens and participated in the parades and cheering. In the outskirts, increased military and traffic police stationed. As far as I can tell, there have not been true gunshots, only the sound of fireworks and noisemakers. Until last night, no violent clashes between security and the crowds, nor between anti- and pro- crowds, in the center of Tripoli (this excludes Zawiya). In fact, anti- crowds have yet to be seen at all.

The attitude in Tripoli contrasts starkly with that in the Easy. Many people in Tripoli do not believe that what is happening in the East is real, they either attribute it to the 'propaganda' of al-Jazeera (against which have been directed several slogans) or say that Egyptians and Tunisians have infiltrated the country, that 'real Libyans' wouldn't do such things. Historically, the two regions have not been great friends, and now whatever tension there was recently has been sharpening into open hate and disgust towards Eastern Libyans. Some people refer to them as 'Zionists and Israelis'.

Also, transportation cross-country has been mostly stopped. Planes and cars/buses no longer go to the East, and several foreign companies brought their employees to Tripoli.

1:41 pm An AudioBoo filed in the early hours this morning describes the ongoing fighting in Benghazi between protesters and security forces, the latter of whom are reportedly fighting from two compounds. An army barracks belonging to the "al-Fadheel" brigade was reportedly overrun by protesters on Saturday; this caller describes young men throwing "hand bombs" at the barracks.

He also provides another account of security forces using high-caliber, possibly anti-aircraft guns against protesters.

1:37 pm  "Things are getting pretty bad here," the caller says.

1:03 pm Libyans have set up a livestream, apparently from a laptop webcam, in Benghazi, the second-largest city in the country and the site of much of its protest activity and deadly violence. We've posted a permanent link at the top of this page.

7:01 am Here's our latest report on the deadly protests in Libya. Al Jazeera speaks with two witnesses in Benghazi, Libya's second-largest city, and summarizes events from around the country, utilizing citizen video that depicts violence being used against demonstrators: Gunfire from security forces, heavy-caliber shells and possible mercenaries:

1:14 am Ahmed, a Benghazi resident, told us: "Right now, the situation is even worse than earlier today. Shooting is going on until now. And at a nearby hospital, at least 150 people have been admitted, those injured and dead. As far as African mercenaries being seen in Benghazi, I have not seen any. But the military is all over the place."