Violence in Libya.[ 2116 ]

U.S. deplores violence in Libya

2nd-largest city ‘is free’ from Gadhafi, protesters say

This photograph, taken by a person not employed by AP, shows people gathering during unrest in Benghazi, the second-largest city in Libya. Residents of the city told reporters by telephone that it was liberated Sunday after soldiers threw their lot with protesters. The claim could not be immediately confirmed. (Associated Press)

By Shaun Waterman

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The Washington Times

8:47 p.m., Sunday, February 20, 2011
Posted Monday ,February  21, 2011.,, 17:07 Local

The United States is “gravely concerned” about the widespread violence in Libya, as reports Sunday said the country’s second-largest city, Benghazi, was in the hands of rebel soldiers and anti-government protesters who had occupied the official residence of dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

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“In Benghazi and in the coastal areas, we are very concerned about reports of security forces firing on peaceful protesters,” said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan E. Rice.

“We’ve condemned that violence,” she told NBC‘s “Meet the Press.” “Our view is that in Libya, as throughout the region, the peaceful protests need to be respected.”

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A statement from the U.S. State Department later Sunday added that officials are “gravely concerned with disturbing reports and images coming out of Libya,” where human-rights groups say as many as 200 protesters have been killed in clashes with security forces in recent days.

“We are working to ascertain the facts,” said the statement from spokesman P.J. Crowley.

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ACROSS AFRICA: Protesters march during unrest in Rabat, Morocco, on Sunday as pro-democracy protests intensify across the Arab world, with demonstrators continuing to demand an end to decades of despotic rule. The protests were the first to break out in Morocco. (Associated Press)

He said the U.S. has raised concerns with “a number of Libyan officials, including Libyan Foreign Minister Musa Kasa, our strong objections to the use of lethal force against peaceful demonstrators.”

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Residents of Benghazi in eastern Libya told reporters by telephone that the city was liberated after soldiers threw their lot with the protesters about 8 p.m. local time.

“Benghazi is free,” a resident named only as Maari told Al Jazeera English TV. “Now it is all over. The whole system has just collapsed,” he added.

He said members of pro-Gadhafi security forces had left the city.

“They had no choice. We had them surrounded for three days,” he said, noting that the protesters had taken heavy casualties in the past 48 hours but had fought back with “homemade bombs.”