Region | Libya
Ten die in Libya cartoon protest
At least ten people died outside the Italian consulate in Benghazi, Libya during a protest over the Danish cartoon controversy.
- Agencies
- Published: 00:00 February 18, 2006
At least ten people died outside the Italian consulate in Benghazi, Libya during a protest over the Danish cartoon controversy.
The riot was sparked by an Italian minister who said that he was making t-shirts featuring the cartoons of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) which have sparked violent protests throughout the world.
On Friday Reforms Minister Roberto Calderoli unveiled the T-shirt underneath his suit while appearing on Italian state-run RAI television.
Over 1,000 rioters gathered outside the consulate in Benghazi and surged into the compound throwing rocks and bottles at the building and eventually setting fire to it.
The ten casualties occurred when police with Kalashnikov rifles fired live rounds and tear gas into the crowd to try and disperse them.
The riot did not cease until about six hours later.
The Italian ambassador to Tripoli, Francesco Trupiano, met late Friday with the Libyan interior minister "who expressed the condemnation of his government for the acts of violence occurring in Benghazi," the Italian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"I explained to the authorities that Calderoli's stance was absolutely personal and did not represent the government," Trupiano was quoted as saying by the ANSA news agency.
Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has demanded Calderoli's resignation.
Share this article
More from Libya
More from Region
Popular in News
News Editor's choice
-
Ajtebi's phenomenal assent
The former camel jockey was at the peak of his powers when upstaging Garret Gomez
-
US pushing for more aid to Philippines
Obama administration eyeing $667m security assistance package
-
Mohammad launches H1N1 campaign
Shaikh Mohammad was the first one to receive the H1N1 vaccine.
