Global Arab Network | Libya: International Community Condemns Gaddafi’s Violence

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Libya: International Community Condemns Gaddafi’s Violence

Global Arab Network - - Rabih Serrai

Tuesday, 22 February 2011 20:39

Against the backdrop of the escalating violence in Libya arising from the mass pretests and widescale use of force by the government against the protesters, many world capitals expressed Tuesday its extreme condemnation for such disproportionate use of force on the part of the Libyan government.

In Paris, the French Foreign Ministry said at a briefing that aircraft scrambled to evacuate the French nationals in Libya in the aftermath of the recent acts of violence, while French Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said in a statement that sending such aircraft within the framework of "guaranteeing the security of the French nationals." Further, French President Nicholas Sarkozy condemned last night, "the unacceptable use of force against Libyans who practice their basic rights to protest, and to freedom of expression," calling for, "an urgent halt of violence, and reaching a political solution that lives up to the aspirations of the Libyan people for democracy and freedom." In Jeddah, the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) expressed here Tuesday its strong condemnation of the use of excessive force against civilians in Libya in what caused the fall of a big number of casualties.

OIC deemed what takes place in Libya, "of suppression and intimidation a humanitarian disaster that runs counter to Islamic and humanitarian values," calling on Libyan authorities to immediately halt the acts of violence, and the targetting of innocents along with dealing with the people's demands through peaceful means, and serious dialogue instead of killing tactics and bloodshed.

In Algiers, the authorities evacuated 250 Algerian nationals from Libya against the backdrop of these bloody events, while the coterminous borders of the two countries are seeing an active movement for the members of Algerian community who flee the country in view of its volatile security conditions.

In Tunis, a party taking part in the transitional government and the opposition party of Islamic Renewal denounced today the "bloody carnages" which the Libyan people undergo, and which led to hundreds of casualties.

The Islamic Renewal Party asserted in a statement today signed by its Chairman Rashed Al-Ghannouchi, "its support to the right of the Libyan people to liberate from all forms of the power and wealth monopoly." In Cairo, two Egyptian military aircraft scrambled to transport the Egyptians stranded in Libya, while the Egyptian authorities opened Al-Salloum border crossing around the clock to receive the Egyptian citizens who converge from Libya under the current deteriorating conditions, and the escalation of civil protests.

Further, Egyptian state-owned TV said that Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces -- that currently runs the country's affairs -- is beefing up security along borders with Libya following the withdrawal of the Libyan border guards, adding that the Egyptian army set up camps for receiving and sheltering the coming Egyptian citizens, and offering them various kinds of assistance.

In Riyadh, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah slammed the acts of violence that are currently perpetrated against the unarmed Libyan people.

Al-Attiyah described, in a statement made here today, the acts perpetrated by the Libyan regime against its own people as being devoid of the least amount of human values, and contradicting with dignity and human rights.

In Gaza, Islamic Resistance Movement, better known as Hamas, which currently rules the Palestinian coastal enclave, has strongly condemned the bombing of the Libyan people by its own ruling regime led by Muammar Al-Qaddafi.

Hamas said in a statement, "we strongly denounce the targetting of the Libyan people who staged peaceful marches by their own regime through warplanes and guns." In Tehran, spokesperson of the Iranian Foreign Ministry denounced here today, "the violence targetting the Libyan people," calling in the meantime for an immediate halt for what this Muslim people undergo.

The spokesperson added, "Iran follows up with serious concern the latest developments in Libya, expressing its rejection and regret for bombing demonstrators and residential areas by military aircraft, and the massive killings of innocent civilians." In Berlin, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle threatened the Libyan government with the imposition of urgent sanctions on it, if it does not comply with the international requirements for stopping the acts of violence against protesters.

Westerwelle stressed -- in a press briefing today that -- that, "if the Libyan leadership does not desist from using violence against its own people, we have no alternative except imposing immediate sanctions on it." In Vienna, the Austrian President Heinz Fischer made an appeal to the Libyan leadership to shoulder its responsibility, and to make efforts on stopping bloodshed in Libya.

Fischer added -- in a statement made by his bureau here today -- that lessons should be learnt of what took place in Tunisia and Libya when peaceful rotation of power took place, noting that developments took place in some Arab countries at the turn of 2011 gain substantial and historic significance.

In Amman, the Jordanian government announced today that it rejects the targetting of civilians in Libya, and the use of warplanes and heavy artillery against them, according to reports made by the media outlets.

Spokesperson of the Jordanian Foreign Ministry Mohammad Al-Kayed said in statements that, "Jordan rejects targetting civilians," asserting that spilling the blood of Libyan people should be immediately stopped.

In Moscow, government of the Russian Federation expressed its utmost concern regarding developments of the situation, and the fall of many victims from civilians there.

Further, Russian Foreign Ministry condemned -- in a statement circulated here today -- the use of force, saying it does not offer solutions to the societal problems, and calling on the Libyan authorities to necessarily abandon the use of military machinery against the protesters.

In Geneva, the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) expressed on Tuesday its deep concern about disturbing reports of the escalation of violence and the killing of hundreds of protesters in clashes with Libyan security forces over the past few days. "We call all parties to respect the human rights of all people in Libya and we urge that ways be found to establish a peaceful dialogue to end the violence, and that efforts be made to ensure a future that brings peace with justice and security for all people", said a press release of the WCC.

The resolution closes by saying that the 150 Central Committee members "pray and hope for the safety of the people of Libya, and for a non-violent and just resolution of this current conflict.".

Further, the UNHCR said on Tuesday that it has become increasingly concerned about dangers for civilians with the events of the past few days in Libya and especially for asylum-seekers and refugees as many may inadvertently be caught up in this violence. "We have no access at this time to the refugee community. Over the past months we have been trying to regularize our presence in Libya, and this has constrained our work", said Melissa Fleming the UNHCR Spokeswoman in a press briefing.

"Some of the reports we are getting from third-party sources are very worrying. A journalist has passed information to us from Somalis in Tripoli who say they are being hunted on suspicion of being mercenaries.
(Agencies)

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