The death toll in protests against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, is growing. According to the latest statement from Human Rights Watch (HRW), 84 people have died since the revolt began on Tuesday in the country, some thirty in Benghazi (the second largest city), 17 in Al Bayda and seven in Derna, all them in the east, where protests have been concentrated.
However, last Friday night, the turmoil has reached the capital, witnesses quoted by dpa. Also Janzur City, west of Tripoli, Gaddafi's many opponents took to the streets. The authorities have not provided an official death toll in the protests. AFP speaks about fifty deaths in the protests and, according to Amnesty International, 46 people have died in the last 72 hours.
The Al-Jazeera talk of 141 fatalities. "This progression alarming death toll and the nature of the injuries observed strongly suggests that security forces have been authorized to use lethal force against unarmed demonstrators," said Malcolm Smart, director of Amnesty International's Africa and Middle East.
The digital edition of the newspaper Quryna owned by Seif el Islam, reformist son of Libyan leader stated that security forces had fired on demonstrators in Benghazi. According to Amnesty, 28 people died during demonstrations on Thursday in this city and three have died this Friday. According to the newspaper Oea, also near Seif el Islam, on Friday 20 protesters have been buried in the town.
"Last night was very hard, there were many people on the street, thousands of people. I saw soldiers on the street," she told Reuters an inhabitant of the main avenue of Benghazi, Nasser Street. "I heard shots. I saw a person fall to the ground [by a gunshot wound], but I have a number of victims." The unrest continued Friday.
Protesters have set fire to the headquarters of the local radio in Benghazi after the withdrawal of security forces who ensured the safety of the building. In the city of Derna, also according Oea on Thursday killed seven people in the demonstrations. Five have been buried and two are still in the hospital of the city.
According to AI, Al Bayda (200 km northeast of Benghazi), at least 15 other civilians died, both protesters and supporters of Gaddafi, during Thursday's demonstrations against the regime. Also, sources quoted by AFP said that agents of the security forces also died, without specifying how many.
According to the newspaper Oea, two officers were hanged by the protesters in the city while trying to disperse a protest. Al Bayda has been the scene of violent clashes between protesters and security forces during the week. The protesters appointed Thursday as the 'Day of Rage', a term also used in the recent popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.
The riots continued throughout the night. Protests have focused so far on the east, including the city of Benghazi, where support for Gaddafi has historically been weaker than in the rest of the country. The area is closed to international media. For now, authorities have not provided an official figure on the victims of the protests in Libya, reflecting a response unprecedented in the 41 years of the regime of Gaddafi. 
However, last Friday night, the turmoil has reached the capital, witnesses quoted by dpa. Also Janzur City, west of Tripoli, Gaddafi's many opponents took to the streets. The authorities have not provided an official death toll in the protests. AFP speaks about fifty deaths in the protests and, according to Amnesty International, 46 people have died in the last 72 hours.
The Al-Jazeera talk of 141 fatalities. "This progression alarming death toll and the nature of the injuries observed strongly suggests that security forces have been authorized to use lethal force against unarmed demonstrators," said Malcolm Smart, director of Amnesty International's Africa and Middle East.
The digital edition of the newspaper Quryna owned by Seif el Islam, reformist son of Libyan leader stated that security forces had fired on demonstrators in Benghazi. According to Amnesty, 28 people died during demonstrations on Thursday in this city and three have died this Friday. According to the newspaper Oea, also near Seif el Islam, on Friday 20 protesters have been buried in the town.
"Last night was very hard, there were many people on the street, thousands of people. I saw soldiers on the street," she told Reuters an inhabitant of the main avenue of Benghazi, Nasser Street. "I heard shots. I saw a person fall to the ground [by a gunshot wound], but I have a number of victims." The unrest continued Friday.
Protesters have set fire to the headquarters of the local radio in Benghazi after the withdrawal of security forces who ensured the safety of the building. In the city of Derna, also according Oea on Thursday killed seven people in the demonstrations. Five have been buried and two are still in the hospital of the city.
According to AI, Al Bayda (200 km northeast of Benghazi), at least 15 other civilians died, both protesters and supporters of Gaddafi, during Thursday's demonstrations against the regime. Also, sources quoted by AFP said that agents of the security forces also died, without specifying how many.
According to the newspaper Oea, two officers were hanged by the protesters in the city while trying to disperse a protest. Al Bayda has been the scene of violent clashes between protesters and security forces during the week. The protesters appointed Thursday as the 'Day of Rage', a term also used in the recent popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.
The riots continued throughout the night. Protests have focused so far on the east, including the city of Benghazi, where support for Gaddafi has historically been weaker than in the rest of the country. The area is closed to international media. For now, authorities have not provided an official figure on the victims of the protests in Libya, reflecting a response unprecedented in the 41 years of the regime of Gaddafi.
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