TRIPOLI — A central government building in the Libyan capital Tripoli was on fire Monday, a Reutersreporter said, in the latest sign that the revolt against Moammar Gadhafi is gathering strength.
“I can see the People’s Hall is on fire, there are firefighters there trying to put it out,” the reporter said. The building is where the General People’s Congress, or parliament, meets when it is in session in Tripoli.
Early Monday, protesters also took over the office of two of the multiple state-run satellite news channels, witnesses said.
Early Monday, protesters also took over the office of two of the multiple state-run satellite news channels, witnesses said.
Human Rights Watch said Monday that the estimated death toll from four days of protests had risen to at least 233, citing hospital sources.
In Benghazi, staff at Al Jalaa hospital said they recorded 50 dead Sunday, while the 7 October hospital reported another 10 dead the same day, giving a total of 60 killed in Benghazi Sunday. Human Rights Watch said it had been unable to contact two other hospitals in Benghazi.
The anti-government protests broke out in Tripoli for the first time Sunday, following days of unrest in the city of Benghazi.
Thousands of protesters clashed with Gadhafi supporters in and around the central Green Square. Gunfire rang out in the night and police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators, some of whom threwstones at Gadhafi billboards.
Witnesses reported snipers opening fire on crowds trying to seize the square, and Gadhafi supporters speeding through in vehicles, shooting and running over protesters.
In response, Gadhafi’s son Saif al-Islam Gadhafi appeared on national television in an attempt both to threaten and calm people.
“Our spirits are high and the leader Moammar Gadhafi is leading the battle in Tripoli, and we are behind him as is the Libyan army,” he said. “We will keep fighting until the last man standing, even to the last woman standing … We will not leave Libya to the Italians or the Turks.”
Finger-wagging
Wagging a finger at the camera, he blamed Libyan exiles for fomenting the violence. But he also promised dialogue on reforms and wage rises.
Saif Gadhafi warned protesters that they risked igniting a civil war in which Libya’s oil wealth “will be burned.” Libya exports about 1.6 million barrels of crude a day.
Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, the son of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, gave a televised address shortly after midnight, Monday, Feb. 21.
Monday saw the price of crude oil jump by $1.67 to near $88 a barrel amid investor concern about disruption of crude supplies.
And the growing unrest prompted BP to suspend preparations for exploratory drilling for oil and gas in western Libya and also said it would “very likely” evacuate some staff, a spokesman for the British energy giant said Monday.
The company does not produce any oil or gas in Libya but has been readying an onshore rig to startdrilling for fuel in the west of the country.
France also urged its citizens in Libya to return home and said it was closing French-run schools in Libya.
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