Violence Boils Over in Libya

Protests in Libya are entering their second week, as Libyan leader Colonel Muammar el-Qaddafi claimed that he would 'die as a martyr' before resigning, according to an article in the Washington Post. Unrest has been intensifying between Qaddafi loyalists and anti-government protesters, and forces on both side are clashing in the Libyan capital of Tripoli, in Benghazi and throughout the North African Country.

When opposition groups gathered in Tripoli's Green Square on Monday, they were met with open gunfire on the ground, and by helicopter, from pro-Qaddafi forces. Exact numbers of dead and wounded are unknown, but estimates range between 300 to 500. Libya's second biggest city, Benghazi, is most recent target of violence for both civilians and military deserters.

Libyan diplomats and religious leaders are voicing their discontent about the assaults. According to Al Jazeera, Ibrahim Dabbashi, who is Libya's deputy ambassador, claimed that current events are a "genocide against the Libyan people." Libya's ambassador to the United States has declared his resignation, and he called on the US to "raise its voice very strongly" to help topple the 68 year-old dictator. In addition, an influential Muslim cleric, Yusuf al-Qaradawi, has issued a fatwa on Qaddafi's life, which is tantamount to calling for a vigilante assassination.

UN Security forces are to meet with Arab Union Leaders today to discuss the bloodshed. Both the US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemn the ongoing violence towards the anti-government protesters.

Qaddafi's regime has been in power since 1969, when he successfully led bloodless coup at the age of 27.

Read more below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/23/world/africa/23libya.html?_r=1&hp

A useful map:

http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2011/02/22/world/africa/22libyaGraphicA.html?ref=africa