Dubai: Libyan troops firing heavy weaponry killed at least 12 mourners in a bloody crackdown on anti-government protesters, witnesses said, as demonstrators re-took a main square in Bahrain's capital on Sunday.
The death toll in Libya appeared to be approaching 100 after nearly a week of protests as the regime of veteran strongman Muammar Gaddafi pursues what Britain called a "horrifying" crackdown in the country's east.
On Saturday, Libyans set up neighbourhood patrols in the shaken eastern city of Benghazi as police disappeared from the streets following an attack by government forces on a two-day-old encampment of protesters demanding an end to Gaddafi's regime, witnesses said.
The situation in the North African nation has become increasingly chaotic, according to reports reaching here.
Meanwhile, the opposition in eastern Libya announced the formation of a ‘Libyan Arab Republic' in what they claimed the liberated part of the country.
A spokesman for the revolutionists, Libyan Youth, said they hoisted the old tri-colour flag with a white crescent and star on public buildings in Benghazi, Al Bayda and Darna after police and security forces joined the revolution on Friday.
Amr Sa'ad, son of Sa'ad Abu Baker — one of the officers in the 1969 revolution along with Gaddafi, told Gulf News from Darna that nothing will allow Gaddafi's forces to return to the eastern part of the country.
"The only fear is if Gaddafi uses chemical weapons to reoccupy the cities in the eastern part of the country. We call on the world to watch Gaddafi because he is in a desperate situation and might do anything to stay in power."
To date, he said, more than 90 people are dead and 650 injured. The bodies are kept in main hospitals. "The morgues of the three main hospitals in Benghazi with a total capacity of 45 bodies are full, in addition to 25 bodies in neighbouring areas," he said.
He said the Libyan Youth ‘arrested' 50 African mercenaries who were defending one of the state security centres in Al Bayda and will refer them to courts once the legal system in the republic starts functioning.
More than 60,000 people are occupying the square of the Northern Court of Benghazi, he said.
Muftah Ahmad, a spokesman for the Libyan Youth, said the army mobilised four tanks in the square but soldiers left their weapons after the youth erected their tents in the square.
Rumours about mercenaries attacking residential areas encouraged women at home to form units to defend their areas, he said.
"The regime launched psychological warfare against revolutioneries. The rumour of attacks on residential areas was meant to prompt men in the square to desert their positions and return home to protect their families.
The alertness of women was quite helpful and security in residential areas is currently better than during the time of Gaddafi's government," Ahmad said.
He said another rumour of poisoned water supply was ruled out after revolutionists tested the water in different parts of the city. "We have occupied the radio station of Benghazi and we are communicating with residents through the radio."
Revolutionists have occupied all police and state security centres in the city and seized the documents in those centres.
Unrest: Latest developments
LIBYA: Eighteen people killed during anti-government demonstrations in Benghazi. Security forces killed at least 84 people over three days.
BAHRAIN: Thousands of Bahraini protesters returned to Pearl Square two days after a deadly police raid expelled demonstrators from it.
YEMEN: One protester shot dead and five wounded in clashes.
ALGERIA: Forces disperse thousands of protests in Algerian cities.
DJIBOUTI: A protester and a policeman were killed in Djibouti when opposition demonstration demanding regime change flared up.
SAUDI ARABIA: Human Rights Watch called on Saudi Arabia to free five activists who announced that they were forming a political party.
KUWAIT: Kuwaiti police fired teargas at hundreds of bidoon (residents without proper documents) demanding citizenship in a second day of protests in a village outside the capital on Saturday.
— AFP
