Libya protests: Second city
Benghazi hit by violence
Hundreds of anti-government protesters have clashed with police and government supporters in Libya's second city, in the latest display of unrest in the Arab world.Dozens of people are said to have been hurt in the clashes in Benghazi.The overnight unrest followed the arrest of an outspoken government critic, who was reportedly freed later.State TV showed demonstrations in several cities said to be in support of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.The unrest comes a day before planned anti-government demonstrations on Thursday, dubbed a "Day of Anger", which are being organised via internet social networks.Pro-democracy protests have recently swept through several Arab nations, with the presidents of Tunisia and Egypt forced to resign amid growing unrest.But Wednesday's demonstrations were the first display of defiance in Libya, where dissent is rarely tolerated.Witnesses say that at one stage up to 2,000 people were involved in the overnight protests in Benghazi, which saw a march on government offices in the city.The protesters are said to have thrown stones and petrol bombs, and set vehicles alight. Witnesses said police used rubber bullets and water cannon to disperse them. The protests reportedly began after the arrest of Fathi Terbil, who represents relatives of more than 1,000 prisoners allegedly massacred by security forces in Tripoli's Abu Salim jail in 1996. He was later said to have been freed.Libya's second-largest city with some 670,000 residentsMore than 100 members of a banned Islamist militant group were freed from Abu Salim on Wednesday. It is not clear if the Benghazi clashes and the release of the inmates were connected.( news from BBC)
Prof. John Kurakar
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