Protests begin in Libya: Report

LONDON - There have been reports of several protests by hundreds of people in the Libyan city of Benghazi, triggered by the arrest of a lawyer who was an outspoken critic of the government, BBC reported Wednesday.

The lawyer was later said to have been released but the protests continued.

The protests began after the arrest of Fathi Terbil, who represents relatives of prisoners killed allegedly by security forces in Tripoli’s Abu Slim jail in 1996.

Sources said he was held after telling relatives of current inmates that the prison was on fire and urging them to protest.

A call has been put out on the internet for protests across Libya Thursday.

There was no confirmation of the protests in Benghazi, but eyewitnesses said that at one stage some 2,000 people were involved.

Stones were thrown at police who responded with water cannons, tear gas shells and rubber bullets.

Fourteen people were injured, including 10 police officers, a local media report said.

Later, state television showed footage of several hundred people in Benghazi voicing their support for the government.

The government has, however, not commented on the events.

One witness told the BBC: “A couple of people in the crowd started chanting anti-government slogans and the crowd took that on. But then, there were clashes with pro-government supporters and then after a bit the pro-government supporters were dispersed and then the security services arrived and they dispersed the crowds with hot-water cannons.”

The Middle East has seen a wave of protests, fuelled by discontent over unemployment, rising living costs, corruption and autocratic leaderships.

Tunisian leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali was overthrown in January, while Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resigned Feb 11.

There also have been anti-government demonstrations in Yemen, Bahrain and Iran.