Libyan Square Breaks Out in Celebration
TOBRUK, LIBYA, Feb 24, 2011— -- Our team spent the afternoon on Tobruk's King Idris Square -- now called Revolution Square by many -- where around 1,500 energized protesters demonstrated against Col. Moammar Gadhafi, celebrating what they believe is his inevitable ouster. The throng was all men -- young and old -- chanting, holding up peace signs, some firing pistols from cars.
The all-green Libyan flag was nowhere to be seen. In its place were the red, black and green banners of the pre-Gadhafi monarchy. They were everywhere -- waved from honking cars, carried through the crowds, painted on children's faces.
The accusations leveled at Gadhafi and the chants calling for him to leave were passionate, and after Egypt, very familiar. Every person we spoke with said Libyans lacked jobs, education and health care, and they demanded a voice against what they called a murderous regime. The similarities with Egypt are striking, almost as if "Mubarak" had been changed to "Gadhafi."
But unique to Libya -- and repeated by almost everyone we spoke with -- was a perceived lack of reason for Libya's great poverty, despite the country's vast oil wealth.
Many said they would fight until Gadhafi left and were willing to die for the cause.
"We are all Libyans, we are one team," said a lawyer dressed in his black robes. "There's no division between us, all one team. And we will fight as one team until we die or he's out."
"He has been sitting [on] our chests for 41 years!" said another man. "But there is anger building up, building up. This spark that started in Tunisia, everyone [is] starting to break this silence. Whoa! It's all over now."
