大象传媒

All eyes on Libya

| Thursday, 2 Feb. 2011 | 17:42 - 19:00 GMT

After the events of the last week, it seems everyone is waiting to see what Colonel Gaddafi will decide to do next?

There has been widespread condemnation from world leaders. On Wednesday President Obama spoke for the first time in a televised speech.

The United States also strongly supports the universal rights of the Libyan people. That includes the rights of peaceful assembly, free speech, and the ability of the Libyan people to determine their own destiny. These are human rights. They are not negotiable. They must be respected in every country. And they cannot be denied through violence or suppression.

Many other leaders have also spoken out against the violence of Colonel Gaddafi's regime against protesters.

The Independent's Robert Fisk, one of the only journalists who has been able to report from Tripoli, said the streets were quiet on Wednesday, with no sign of opposition anywhere.

Squads of young men with Kalashnikov rifles stood on the side roads next to barricades of upturned chairs and wooden doors. But these were pro-Gaddafi vigilantes...and had pinned photographs of their leader's infamous Green Book to their checkpoint signs.

There is conflicting information about the situation in Libya, as there has been all week, but it appears that the eastern parts of the country are firmly under the control of anti-government protesters. Many of the army units stationed there have defected.

But the BBC's Frank Gardner says this will not worry Colonel Gaddafi because he has a strong and brutal security force under his control.

Your comments

  1. Comment sent via SMS

    Ghaddafi is stll wallowing in delusions of grandeur. Wake Ghaddafi frm ur megalomaniac slumber. What鈥檚 happnng in Libya is d pple鈥檚 desire to make a change and nt any external influence either real or imagned. >Ben Ogbuabana, Lagos.

  2. Comment sent via SMS

    Ghadafi is getting confused; days ago he blamed the U.S for the riots in Libya, and now he says Osama bin Laden is responsible. What will he say next? (Anyii George, Kampala).

  3. Comment sent via Twitter

    @大象传媒_WHYS Because Libyan national are refugees of war and not illegal immigrants just wanting out for more money or opportunity.

  4. Comment sent via Twitter

    @大象传媒_WHYS Trying to call people in #Libya, not able to reach anyone. We will continue and update as things develop. #Feb17

  5. Comment sent via Facebook

    David "The world needs to sit back right now, and get ready to help clean up the mess. Having blamed Bin Laden, Gadhafi has pretty much signed his own death warrant. It would have been quicker and easier for him to have painted a target on his back. Once he's gone, the Libyan people will need proper guidance in organising a proper democracy. Then, the world can step in."

  6. Comment sent via Facebook

    Tom says "Nothing. It would be nice if they did all they could for themselves. It would also be nice if the refugees would know there is only so much others can afford to do for them."

  7. Comment sent via Facebook

    Jovitta got in touch with us on Facebook to say I worked in the Balkans immediately after the conflicts and now work in Afghanistan. If it weren't for neighbouring and other countries opening their doors to the fleeing masses in these conflicts, the fear and mass hysteria (let alone the... death tolls) would have been far worse!

  8. Comment sent via Facebook

    Luca from Italy posted on Facebook As an Italian, I daresay that Italy itself ought to welcome the refugees, at least until the situation gets better. Neighbouring countries, such as Egypt and Tunisia should do the same since they themselves set off the protests.

  9. Comment sent via host

    Hi we''re on air in a few minutes ... post your comments here!

  10. Comment sent via Twitter

    @大象传媒_WHYS LPC in #Benghazi: Caller - Situation remains calm, working on updates from #Tripoli #Libya #Feb17