Decrying consulate attack, Libyan protesters storm Islamist group's HQ

[Caelius]

+1 Faith in humanity. Hopefully this gets more attention.

The only way to silence the radical nutjobs out there is to take them head on and convey the message that their ignorance won't be tolerated by the silent majority.

Source

Benghazi, Libya (CNN) -- Ten days after four Americans were killed in their Libyan city, hundreds marched in Benghazi and took over the headquarters of a radical Islamist group tied to the attack.

Thousands of protesters had taken to the street earlier Friday, loudly declaring that they -- and not those behind last week's deadly attack -- represent the real sentiments of the Libyan people.

"I am sorry, America," one man said. "This is the real Libya."

In the evening, an offshoot of several hundred people then headed toward the headquarters for Ansar al-Sharia, a loosely connected radical Islamist group.

As militia members fled, the protesters torched a vehicle and took over the group's building without firing a single shot. Some of those involved claimed to have freed at least 20 captives held inside, and expressed their intent to assume control over other Ansar al-Sharia buildings.

Army General Naji al-Shuaibi said the citizens, whom he referred to as "revolutionaries of the February 17 uprising," later asked that the Ansar al-Sharia headquarters be handed over to the Libyan army.

"Indeed, we rushed here and we will now take it over," said the general. "There are also other places that we intend to take over (which belong to armed groups) if the revolutionaries and the people allow us to do so."

Mohamed al-Magariaf, president of Libya's General National Congress, thanked the protesters for helping evict "armed groups."

But some of the protesters gathered at locations that house forces loyal to the national authority, he said. He asked those demonstrators to stop their activities and go home.

On the night of September 11, U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens was one of four Americans slain after a group assaulted the U.S. Consulate in the eastern Libyan city.

Seen as the birthplace of the revolution that led to the death of longtime Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, Benghazi has in recent months been beset by security issues.

Initial reports indicated that, ahead of the consular attack, Ansar al-Sharia had organized a protest to decry an inflammatory film that mocks the Prophet Mohammed and also protest the United States, where the film was privately produced.

On Thursday, Libyan Prime Minister Mustafa Abushagur said eight detained in connection with that assault include members of Ansar al-Sharia, though he added that not all the attackers came from one specific group.

Responding to the report from Benghazi, U.S. Sen. John McCain applauded the citizens' efforts Friday and said it represented the true, freedom-loving Libya that he and other U.S. officials involved in the country knew.

"Somewhere Chris Stevens is smiling," the Arizona Republican said. "This is what we knew ... about Libya."

[RZZZA]

warms the heart...

[Emperor Arcturus Mengsk]

Not that I care that an embassy was stormed, because I believe embassies shouldn't exist in our days...

but it seems fighting fire with fire is the only thing that the "non-radicals" can do to "radicals" making everyone a radical in effect

[MathiasOfAthens]

Not that I care that an embassy was stormed, because I believe embassies shouldn't exist in our days...

but it seems fighting fire with fire is the only thing that the "non-radicals" can do to "radicals" making everyone a radical in effect

Your under the impression embassies are only for diplomats communicating with nations? You prob think they could do this solely through email? Thats not all embassies exist for.

[Lord Baratheon]

Oh I do have empathy, for the millions of sensible non violent muslims,secularists,women, and minority faiths who live under the sharia jackboot.Have you not considered that they are too afraid to speak out and our standing up to this terror and our defiance of it will be an inspiration to them.

I said this last week regarding the protests/riots over 'the film'.And it seems I was partially right.There is a large silent majority in Arab society who dont want dictatorship or theocracy, just liberty.We must defend them.

[yuezhi]

didn't expect to see any women, but hey look they look like at least make up a quarter.

having your HQ for a extremist militia out in public where everyone knows where it is so they can see and vandalize it? guess it's reasonable in in post-war libya, but still FAIL.

[Lord Zhang Ku]

Actions like these make me feel that my feelings towards Libya are valid.

[hellheaven1987]

Fight violence with violence, so nice; wonder what so difference between those protestors and the militias.

[Trey]

Fight violence with violence, so nice; wonder what so difference between those protestors and the militias.

They didn't kill. It was a popular action that showed that the people are fed up with violent militias acting outside and against government authority who do kill. And especially those who would kill someone who supported their struggle against Qaddhafi.
But I expect that would beyond your comprehension.

[hellheaven1987]

They didn't kill.

So the four people who died in the protest were just unlucky? How about all the cars and building smashed by the protestors?

At least four people have been killed in the Libyan city of Benghazi after military police and protesters took over several militia bases.

The violence followed a day of protests by tens of thousands of citizens demanding an end to the armed groups.

The bases include the HQ of the Islamist group Ansar al-Sharia, suspected of involvement in an attack on the US consulate in the city.

The deaths occurred during a standoff at the base of another group.

Witnesses say supporters of Ansar al-Sharia lined up outside its headquarters, in front of the crowd, waving black and white banners.

They fired into the air to try to disperse the protesters, but fled with their weapons after the base was surrounded by waves of people shouting "no to militias".

Buildings and a car were set alight and fighters evicted.

However, in a standoff outside the headquarters of the Sahaty Brigade in the city, three people were killed and at least 20 injured according to witnesses and officials.

Another person was killed and another 20 injured in other incidents, city hospitals said

Source

[Bolkonsky]

Fight violence with violence, so nice; wonder what so difference between those protestors and the militias.

There is a huge difference between just violence, and unjust violence.

[Heathen Hammer]

Hundreds or even thousands of people rioting =/= all population.
Goes for both sides.

Anyways, there is already a thread for the Libyan embassy attack.

[Col. Tartleton]

"Don't make America bomb us again. We just got the plumbing back."

I kid.

Maybe this backlash to the backlash to America will spread too.

[Admiral Piett]

Finally the moderates grow some balls! Good on them.




Hellheaven, read your sources. The 4 deaths were from the Rafallah Sahati militia opening fire on them. Your bias shows quite profoundly here.


Here's what some of the Libyans who took part had to say about it:

"I don't want to see armed men wearing Afghani-style clothes stopping me in the street to give me orders, I only want to see people in uniform," said Omar Mohammed, a university student who took part in the takeover of the site, which protesters said was done in support of the army and police.

"The ambassador was Libya's friend"

"We are not infidels for God sake. We have no bars, no discos, we are not practicing vice in the street," said Wassam ben Madin, a leading activist in the city who lost his right eye in clashes with security forces on the first day of the uprising against Gadhafi. "This is not the time for talk about Shariah. Have a state first then talk to me about Shariah."

"If they are the 'supporters of Shariah' then who are we?" he said. "We don't want the flag of al-Qaida raised over heads," he added, referring to Ansar al-Shariah's black banner.

[hellheaven1987]

Hellheaven, read your sources. The 4 deaths were from the Rafallah Sahati militia opening fire on them.

Nope, my source has clearly states Rafallah Sahati opened fire towards air as warning shot, not on the protestors.

[MonkeyD]

I'd like to believe this is the start of a backlash against extremism. I glad that the news for once doesn't paint the entire Middle East as anti-Western culture. Go Libya!

[Tiberios]

Good to see that a lot of Libyans are standing up to the Islamists.

[YukonTrooper]

I'm not sure where in the article it says the militia opened fire on the protestors, Filmmaker. Maybe you saw what you wanted to see? It says three were killed in exchanged fire between the two sides that lasted for two hours. It's possible the militia opened fire first, but nowhere in the article does it explicitly say so.

Anyways, I like how these "protestors" brought enough rifles and possibly RPGs for a two hour battle, then torched the place and looted the weapons caches. Sounds like another militia or a militia in the making to me.

Good on the peaceful protestors that demonstrated earlier in the day.

[Bobz]

Very good to see that the small Islamist groups that some misguidedly think have taken over the entire region are being removed from any positions they may have held. Good on the Libyan people for continuing to rebuild their country by trying to disarm the remaining militias.

[John ''True Grit'' Wayne]

Government sends out some people to make them look good and keep getting cash to rebuild the place.Good PR.