Libya: New Humanitarian Concerns, Future Being Addressed
By MISNA
Intensive talks are apparently underway between politicians who resigned, such as ambassadors and ministers, on the formation of a political body to lead the nation, reports Al Jazeera.
News is also circulating on new defections amongst loyalists of Colonel Muammar Qadhafi, including his cousin and adviser Qadhaf al Dam, in charge of relations with Egypt, where he has been for over a week.
The Libyan official, according to international media, called for an end to the violence and “a return to reason to preserve the future and unity of Libya”. The diplomat also reportedly gave orders to his office in Cairo to send medical supplies to the eastern cities of Tobruk and Al Beida, for days now in the hands of the opposition.
The humanitarian situation in Libya is causing concern on various levels. The World Food Programme (WFP) has launched an alarm on the possible collapse of the food chain, considering that food supplies are no longer reaching the ports and that distribution in the national territory is obstructed by escalating tension.
The UN High Commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, launched a new appeal to the Libyan leader to stop the violent crackdown on demonstrators. “In brazen and continuing breach of international law, the crackdown in Libya of peaceful demonstrations is escalating alarmingly with reported mass killings, arbitrary arrests, detention and torture of protesters”
The rights chief also called on Italy, Malta, Tunisia and Egypt, the closest countries to Libya, to “open borders” and allow in, welcome and properly assist refugees fleeing the violence.
In the international media the ‘war of news’ appears increasingly evident between official reports and those from opposition front, often through internet and from abroad, in both cases very difficult to verify.
The tolls circulating currently range from 300 dead, including over 100 from the government front, reported by official sources of the ‘Jamahiriya’ (People’s Republic, the name given by Qadhafi to his government), to some 10,000 dead reported by an apparent Libyan member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), whose identity was not disclosed.
Phone communications have been impossible today with the Libyan capital Tripoli, where opposition protesters are set to demonstrate after the Muslim Friday prayer.
Many Tripoli residents received mobile phone messages urging them to stay home, in exchange for a free phone recharge.
