Libya protests: has Colonel Gaddafi lost his grip ?
This topic was discussed on World Have Your Say on 21 February 2011. Listen to the programme.
It's day five of the protest in Libya and the revolt is the bloodiest yet in the wave of uprisings across the region. More than 230 are dead according to Human Rights Watch. Eyewitnesses say security forces opened fire on crowds last night as thousands of protesters converged on Tripoli's Green Square. Reuters is reporting the central government building is on fire.
It's very difficult to get a true picture of what's happening as phone lines and internet are cut and foreign media are banned. Shabab Libya tweeted: "We are getting eye witness accounts of terrible crimes currently taking place in the city of Tripoli we fear the worst." This Libyan blogger says she's hearing "Tripoli is upside-down."
There are also reports from the second city Benghazi that the military has joined the side of the protesters, and that parts of the city are in the hands of anti-government protesters.
The Colonel's son, Seif al-Islam el-Qaddafi, gave a speech on TV last night, warning there could be civil war and "rivers of blood.". Habib Haddad from Lebanon tweeted: "Such a surreal speech, Middle Ages speech on 21st century media."
Has central government lost control ? What do you think of the protests and the government crackdown ? Is it almost all over ? If you're in Libya tell us what you're seeing and hearing.
Walid emailed from Baida in Libya:
"Demonstrations are all over Libya, My Tripoli friends tell me of a brutal attack by the security forces on them, much harsher than the one they have seen in Eastern province Benghazi."
Khaled has emailed from Benghazi:
"Saif clearly desperate to play last card! It's too late for falling regime rule by incredibly corrupted family and their cronies."
Meera from Libya has emailed:
"People living in houses in those barricaded areas are anxiously ready to defend their properties using kitchen knives."
Sarah Abdallah has tweeted: "Gaddafi-hired mercenaries are firing on unarmed, peaceful protesters in Green Square from helicopters with automatic weapons." and "The Zuwayya Tribe has joined protesters against Gaddafi and has threatened to cut off oil if the dictator doesn't step down."
