Libyans protest in London as emotions reach breaking point
By Ian Dunt
Hundreds of Libyans have taken to the streets of London to demand greater international action against Muammar Gaddafi.
The streets of Whitehall rang with chants condemning the Libyan leader, as groups of exiles and their sympathisers gathered outside Downing Street.
As the Libyan president delivered a protracted speech promising to fight the protest movement, many demonstrators called for more action from the British government.
“There is nothing from the British government at the moment to condemn the massacre Gaddafi is doing,” one demonstrator told politics.co.uk.
“There is total silence from the British government, from the American government, from the Germans, the French – why?
“If that happened to any other Arab nation we know what the reaction would be. Is it the oil again? Is it the interests? How many people have to be killed?”
But many demonstrators took a more generous view of the UK’s approach to the crisis.
“A few years back we were in this place protesting about what Blair was doing cosying up to Gaddafi,” human rights activist Fathi Elmehdwi said.
“In the end the British government act in their interests. I’m a Libyan but I’m British at the same time. I don’t blame the British government. They have their interests.
“They can introduce democracy to the people there – education, human rights. Things like that. I appreciate the help and support of the British government to let me stay here and fight for my freedom and fight for my people’s freedom.”
Events in Libya continue to develop quickly, with many concerned that Colonel Gaddafi will act mercilessly as he launches his last stand against protestors.
