LIBYAN UPRISING

LIBYAN UPRISSING
It all began on the 15th of February as it was preceded by the protesters in Benghazi, which lead to clashes with the security forces that fired straight towards them . In the evening of that dreadful day over 500 demonstrators protested in front of the courthouse (Headquarters) in Benghazi after hearing the arrest of the lawyer Fathi Terbil. However, the security forces violently broke up the demonstration resulting with 40 injured and several dead .The protests spread throughout Libya, initially starting in Bayda ,Zintan, Derna, Ajdabia then all the other cities .They all rose against the ruthless Gaddafi regime calling for an end to it. As the protesters were annoyed yet extremely disappointed, they set police and security buildings on fire. On the following day, the armed protests took place in many city-states. Therefore, the security forces responded fiercely against them. Later in February, it was reported that Gaddafi’s government had restrained protests in Tripoli by distributing automobiles, money, and weapons for hired followers to drive around Tripoli and attack people showing signs of dissent. In Tripoli, mercenaries shot people who even tried to gather in groups.
The Libyan rebels had no choice but to fight Gaddafi’s regime, with well trained yet well armed soldiers with various weapons such as snipers, artilleries, helicopter gunships, warplanes, anti-aircraft weaponries, and warships.However the rebels are civilians that work as teachers, students, lawyers, doctors as well as soldiers that were defected from the Libyan Army and joined the rebels. The rebels got their weapons by either making them from old weapons they find or heavy weapons they capture off the security forces during their battles. Gaddafi's regime had repeatedly asserted that the rebels included al-Qaeda fighters. NATO commanders stated that there might be al Qaeda fighters helping the rebels out. However, they added that there is no sufficient information to confirm that.
After fierce fighting the rebels finally entered Tripoli after a brutal clash with Gaddafi’s security forces, however Gaddafi was nowhere to be found in Tripoli. The fighting turned back to Sirte even before the rebels fully consolidated control of Tripoli. In September, rebels took Gaddafi’s second stronghold of Bani Walid after fierce fighting which lasted for weeks. The NTC conquered Gaddafi’s first strong hold of Sirte on 20th of October, and reported that Gaddafi himself had been killed in the city battle. Which ended 42years he held in power.
Nine months of ferocious fighting, finally on the 23rd of October the NTC announced the ‘liberation of libya’.Today all Libyans should be united in order to rebuild a state based on democracy and justice. One of the main issues that will happen for the first time in Libya’s history is to have free elections for a new elected government. All Libyans should never forget what we sacrificed in order to get our freedom, indeed, especially in this transitional period it needs the corporation of all Libyan citizens to rebuild a new Libya, and look forward for a better future for our beloved country…
BY DUA EL HARRAM
GRADE 10B