One analyst said that Gaddafi (do they keep changing the spelling of this guy's name) won't hesitate to "do a Hitler," in other words, take it as far as he can, to hold onto his power and stop the dissent. How long should the world wait before they step in to stop this man?
State television says Muammar Gadhafi's beleaguered regime to increases food subsidies, allowances as well as a sweeping cash grants.
Libya's government, clinging to power after a popular revolt, has ordered massive cash handouts include wage increases, food subsidies and allowances, state television reported on Friday.
It said each family will receive 500 Libyan dinars ($400) to help cover increased food costs, and that wages for some categories of public sector workers would increase by 150 percent, the television station said.
Protesters chanting anti-government slogans while holding a Libyan flag in a square in Benghazi city, Libya, February 23, 2011.
Photo by: Reuters
The announcement came after a former Libyan minister told Al Jazeera he feared Libyan Leader Muammar Gadhafi may resort to using biological and chemical weapons as a last resort amid the country's escalating and violent unrest.
One would hope that that son of a bitch offspring of Gadaffi saves the last bullet for himself.
Massacre In Libya: Witnesses Say Protesters Have Taken Control Of Benghazi Despite Gov't Violence
Feb 21, 11
DemocracyNow.org - After a week of deadly unrest in the North African country of Libya, tens of thousands of people celebrated Sunday as they retook the streets of the eastern city of Benghazi. According to Human Rights Watch, more than 300 people have been killed in Libya this week.
Two Libyan air force colonels landed their Mirage F-1 fighter jets in Malta on Monday, explaining that they were ordered to bomb protesters in Benghazi, Libya’s second-largest city, and chose instead to flee.
Many of the country’s diplomats around the world, appalled by their government’s vicious assault on protesters, have resigned.
The Guardian:
The two Mirage F1 jets touched down in Malta after the pilots said they urgently needed to refuel and sought emergency clearance to land. The Times of Malta reported on its website the pilots had told officials they flew to the island after being ordered to bomb protesters occupying Libya’s second-biggest city of Benghazi.
One report said they had also brought with them two other members of the Libyan armed forces. The pilots – both colonels – said that, after taking off from Okba Ben Nafi base, they flew low through Libyan air space to avoid radar detection.
Protesters take over office of two state-run satellite news channels, set central government building ablaze, as violence escalates on 7th day of protests.
Libyan military aircraft fired live ammunition at crowds of anti-government protesters in Tripoli, Al Jazeera television reported on Monday, quoting witnesses for its information.
"What we are witnessing today is unimaginable. Warplanes and helicopters are indiscriminately bombing one area after another. There are many, many dead," Adel Mohamed Saleh said.
Saleh, who called himself a political activist, said the bombings had initially targeted a funeral procession.
"Our people are dying. It is the policy of scorched earth." he said. "Every 20 minutes they are bombing."
Live Protesters claim control of Benghazi; unrest spreads to capital • Hague 'has information to suggest Gaddafi on way to Venezuela' • Justice minister quits over 'excessive force' against citizens
Intense violence has been reported in Libya's second city, Benghazi, with troops said to have opened fire again on anti-government protesters.
At least 15 people were killed and many more wounded, unconfirmed reports say.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as snipers opened fire. Some reports spoke of machine-guns and mortar bombs being fired.
At least 84 people have died, rights groups say, but reports have been hard to verify amid tight controls.
US-based group Human Rights Watch said the 84 had died in Benghazi as well as in a number of other cities in eastern Libya.
BBC Middle East correspondent Jon Leyne says that for much of the day, it seemed as if the government had lost control of the eastern cities of al-Badai and Benghazi. Now witnesses in Benghazi are describing what sounds like a sustained battle with government forces, he adds.
Reports emerging from Libya are sketchy and sporadic, after the government moved to control internet access, but the Associated Press news agency and al-Jazeera television both said troops had opened fire on people attending a funeral on Saturday, killing 15.
Citing witnesses and medical staff in Benghazi, the reports told of snipers firing on crowds gathered to mourn some of those killed on Friday.
One doctor told the BBC that situation in the city was "like hell".
"I have been seeing injured people being carried in all day. They have been shot in the head and chest. They have broken arms and legs. There is shooting going on everywhere," said the doctor.
There were also widespread reports that foreign mercenaries from sub-Saharan Africa - paid by the Libyan government - had been brought in to attack protesters.
Another resident told the BBC that 40 people had been killed in a short space of time.
"Just about an hour ago, more than 40 people have been shot dead in the streets of Benghazi," he said, blaming the violence on the country's veteran leader, Colonel Muammar Gadaffi.
"Please, please tell the world - let the world know that he's killing the people for no reason. They're very peaceful protesters. He's bringing foreigners from nowhere, from nowhere, Africans, black African snipers shooting the people in the streets of Benghazi, now he's attacking Benghazi itself with rocket
Human Rights Watch: Government forces killed 84 in 3 days in Libya
By the CNN Wire Staff
February 19, 2011 — Updated 0838 GMT (1638 HKT)
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Witnesses say thousands of Libyans protested against Moammar Gadhafi
A medical source in Benghazi says 20 people were killed in the city on Friday
(CNN) — At least 84 people have been killed by government security forces in three days of protests across Libya, Human Rights Watch said Friday. The group said the information is based on telephone interviews with local hospital staff and witnesses.
CNN has not been able to independently confirm the figure.
On Friday, at least 20 people were killed and 200 more were injured in the northern Mediterranean city of Benghazi, Libya's second-largest, said a medical source in Benghazi who was not identified for security reasons.
The casualties occurred as thousands of Libyans took to the streets to voice their discontent over leader MoammarGadhafi, witnesses said.
CNN's Yousuf Basil, Fionnuala Sweeney, Ben Wedeman and Salma Abdelaziz contributed to this report.
According to numerous reports around the web tonight, Internet access in Libya has been shut down.
Facebook, Twitter and other sites, including Al Jazeera’s website, have been reported as blocked for several hours already; however, in a brief bulletin in The Los Angeles Times, we read that the entire Internet has been cut off in a situation similar to that seen in Egypt just weeks ago. (...)