Gadhafi vows to remain in power as Western pressure grows

 

Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Gadhafi says he will not surrender

Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi has told the nation that he will not step down and vowed to fight the protesters and die a 'martyr.' This comes as thousands of foreigners are desperately trying to flee the violence.

 

Appearing on state television, Gadhafi was seen pounding his fist on a podium as he shouted that he would not step down and would not leave the country. "Gadhafi does not have a post to resign from, Gadhafi is the leader of the revolution," he said. He said he would fight the protesters and was prepared to die a "martyr" and called on his supporters to take to the streets.
In what had been billed as a speech to announce political reforms, including the devolution of power to local governments, Gadhafi appeared only to suggest that a number of new committees would be formed.

Responding to Gadhafi's speech, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the Libyan leader's words were "frightening" and that he had more or less declared war on his own people. She also said Germany would consider sanctions against Libya unless the violence stopped.

As the turmoil spreads across Libya, ever more foreigners have been trying to flee the violence. France was sending three military planes to evacuate around 750 French citizens from the capital, Tripoli, while thousands of Turkish workers, who have been stranded in the eastern city of Benghazi, were waiting for ships to rescue them.

Thousands of Tunisians were said to be fleeing across Libya's western border, amid fears they could become targets for their country's role in the Arab uprisings. The revolts in Tunisia led to President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's removal and sparked the protests in Egypt.

Meanwhile foreign journalists entering Tobruk were reporting that Eastern Libya was no longer under the control of the central government. Soldiers and police had defected and were being accepted by the opposition. There was a carnival atmosphere, portraits of Gadhafi were being destroyed and copies of his "Green Book" were being burnt.

Vociferous West

But as the reported violence against protesters intensified, international condemnation also grew.

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  Germany has threatened sanctions against LibyaGerman Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said the international community had a duty to speak out against what was happening in Libya. "If you get involved in human rights issues that's not interference in internal matters; It is our damned duty," he told public broadcaster ZDF. "We cannot watch as people are being murdered, peaceful protesters taking their issue to the streets are being shot at, and the military is possibly being deployed in the airspace to violently suppress demonstrations."

Westerwelle added that if need be Germany would impose sanctions. "If Libya continues to proceed with violence against its own people, sanctions will be unavoidable."

At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, major Western powers were expected to demand an immediate condemnation of Libya. "The scale of violence by the Libyan security forces is against peaceful demonstrators is really shocking," Germany's UN ambassador Peter Wittig told reporters ahead of the meeting, adding that the council "should act with a clear and swift message."

The UN human rights chief, Navi Pillay, said the regime's actions against protesters could be described as crimes against humanity. In a statement, she "condemned the callousness with which Libyan authorities and their hired guns are reportedly shooting live rounds of ammunition at peaceful protesters."

The UN's refugee agency, UNHCR, said Tuesday it was "gravely concerned" about the plight of refugees, adding that it currently had no access to them. The agency appealed to "all countries to recognize the humanitarian needs at this time of all people fleeing targeted violence, threats and other human rights abuses in Libya."

Human Rights Watch said the death toll stood at 233, while opposition groups put the figure at 560. There has been no official confirmation of the death toll.

Authors: Rob Mudge, Matt Zuvela (AFP, Reuters, dpa)
Editor: Michael Lawton

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