Confronting the Libyan Karzai....
Protesters calling for greater transparency break through gates using hand grenades then torch NTC chief's land cruiser
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 21 January 2012
"Hundreds of angry protesters have stormed the Libyan transitional government's headquarters in the eastern city of Benghazi, carting off computers, chairs, and desks while the country's interim leader was holed up in the building.
Libyans have grown increasingly frustrated with the pace and direction of reforms in the country more than three months after the end of the civil war that ousted longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Those concerns spurred residents in Benghazi, where the uprising broke out in February, to begin protests nearly two weeks ago to demand transparency and justice from the country's new leaders.
The melee at the National Transitional Council's headquarters began after protesters broke through the gates using hand grenades and streamed into the grounds of the headquarters. They banged on the building's doors and demanded officials meet with them.
In a bid to calm tensions, NTC chief Mustafa Abdul Jalil tried to address the crowd from a second-floor window, but protesters began throwing bottles at him.
Protesters then torched Abdul-Jalil's armoured land cruiser and broke into the headquarters itself, smashing windows to get inside and cart off furniture and electronics.
A security official in the building said a team of 50 guards dressed as civilians were trying to calm the protesters.
The official, who served as a revolutionary commander during the civil war, said Jalil was still in the building and was refusing to leave. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.
Some of the protesters pitched tents weeks ago outside the NTC's headquarters to protest against election laws they say were drafted by the interim leaders without consulting the public.
"The election laws have not been approved by thousands of Libyans and do not honour those who died for our freedom," said Tamer al-Jahani, a lawyer taking part in the protest. "We don't want to replace one tyrant with another."
The NTC is expected to soon pass the packet of laws, which specify how elections for a transitional parliament will be held. The council only took into account public suggestions through an online survey.
The NTC's handling of the draft laws has sparked criticism that the council is not living up to its democratic ideals.
Last week, NTC official Abdel-Hafiz Ghoga was assaulted in Benghazi by protesters angry at what they said is the NTC's lack of transparency.
Some demonstrators were demanding more rights for fighters wounded during the civil war.
Protester Ahmed Boras accused the NTC of sidelining anti-Gaddafi fighters.
"It seems to us that these people are no different than Gaddafi and they only speak the language of force," he said."
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 21 January 2012
"Hundreds of angry protesters have stormed the Libyan transitional government's headquarters in the eastern city of Benghazi, carting off computers, chairs, and desks while the country's interim leader was holed up in the building.
Libyans have grown increasingly frustrated with the pace and direction of reforms in the country more than three months after the end of the civil war that ousted longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Those concerns spurred residents in Benghazi, where the uprising broke out in February, to begin protests nearly two weeks ago to demand transparency and justice from the country's new leaders.
The melee at the National Transitional Council's headquarters began after protesters broke through the gates using hand grenades and streamed into the grounds of the headquarters. They banged on the building's doors and demanded officials meet with them.
In a bid to calm tensions, NTC chief Mustafa Abdul Jalil tried to address the crowd from a second-floor window, but protesters began throwing bottles at him.
Protesters then torched Abdul-Jalil's armoured land cruiser and broke into the headquarters itself, smashing windows to get inside and cart off furniture and electronics.
A security official in the building said a team of 50 guards dressed as civilians were trying to calm the protesters.
The official, who served as a revolutionary commander during the civil war, said Jalil was still in the building and was refusing to leave. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.
Some of the protesters pitched tents weeks ago outside the NTC's headquarters to protest against election laws they say were drafted by the interim leaders without consulting the public.
"The election laws have not been approved by thousands of Libyans and do not honour those who died for our freedom," said Tamer al-Jahani, a lawyer taking part in the protest. "We don't want to replace one tyrant with another."
The NTC is expected to soon pass the packet of laws, which specify how elections for a transitional parliament will be held. The council only took into account public suggestions through an online survey.
The NTC's handling of the draft laws has sparked criticism that the council is not living up to its democratic ideals.
Last week, NTC official Abdel-Hafiz Ghoga was assaulted in Benghazi by protesters angry at what they said is the NTC's lack of transparency.
Some demonstrators were demanding more rights for fighters wounded during the civil war.
Protester Ahmed Boras accused the NTC of sidelining anti-Gaddafi fighters.
"It seems to us that these people are no different than Gaddafi and they only speak the language of force," he said."
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