Libyan security forces killed at least 24 people in a violent crackdown on anti-regime demonstrations during a “Day of Anger” against leader Muammar Qaddafi, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said yesterday.
The New York-based rights group, citing witnesses, said 24 protesters were killed and scores injured during Thursday’s assaults on protests in two Libyan cities.
“The authorities should cease the use of lethal force unless absolutely necessary to protect lives and open an independent investigation into the lethal shootings,” HRW said in a statement.
The worst violence hit the eastern city of Al-Baida, where hospital staff put a call out on Thursday for additional medical supplies to treat 70 injured protesters, half in critical condition, the rights group said.
One injured protester sitting near the hospital’s intensive care unit told HRW that security forces had used live ammunition to deter protesters, fatally shooting 16 of them and wounding dozens others.
In Benghazi, hundreds of lawyers, activists, and other protesters gathered on the steps of the court on Thursday calling for a Constitution and respect for the rule of law.
A protester told HRW that groups of men in street clothes armed with knives, later joined by internal security forces, charged into the crowd to disperse the demonstration.
He said he believed security forces had shot dead at least 17, HRW said, adding that it was able to confirm eight of those deaths.
“The security forces’ vicious attacks on peaceful demonstrators lay bare the reality of Muammar Qaddafi’s brutality when faced with any internal dissent,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at HRW.
“Libyans should not have to risk their lives to make a stand for their rights as human beings,” she said.
Libya’s state news agency says Qaddafi had toured the capital Tripoli, trying to rally loyalists.
More demonstrations were expected yesterday, and witnesses say protesters camped out in a central area of Benghazi.
The state news agency JANA says that Qaddafi’s convoy toured Tripoli late on Thursday to rally support. A pro-Qaddafi online paper said one of his sons had visited security forces in eastern Libya where many of the protests took place to offer financial help.
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