Arab World in Turmoil: Diplomats Urge Restraint as Protests Intensify in Libya and Egypt

Strategic Insights -

As protests and crackdowns in Libya intensify, international diplomats are calling for restraint, while simultaneously looking for a way forward in Egypt, which has weathered its own popular uprising. The bloodiest of the anti-government protests sweeping the Arab world, Libya's situation has drawn condemnation from human rights groups and the United Nations, with calls for investigations into the government's crackdown on protesters. Amidst the chaos, top diplomats are emphasizing the need for peaceful transitions and urging nations to unite in their criticism of violent crackdowns.

Key Takeaways:

  • Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has vowed to die on Libyan soil as a "martyr," calling on his supporters to fight against those who challenge his more than four-decade rule.
  • Human Rights Watch reports that Libyan forces have fired randomly at protesters in the capital, Tripoli, with at least 62 bodies seen in hospitals, although the figure is difficult to confirm.
  • The European Union's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, has called for nations to unite in their criticism of violent crackdowns on peaceful protesters, emphasizing the need for leaders and demonstrators to find a way forward.
  • The UN is also urging restraint, with the Arab League chief, Amr Moussa, stating that violence against protesters must come to an end.
  • Egyptian protests have provided a model for peaceful transition, as emphasized by European Union officials.
  • Libyan diplomats have turned against the government, with the nation's deputy ambassador to the UN, Ibrahim Dabbashi, appealing for international intervention to protect the Libyan people from "genocide."
  • The European Investment Bank is considering a proposal to provide Egypt with an additional $1.6 billion through its funding programs.

Statistics:

  • At least 62 bodies seen in hospitals in Tripoli, but the figure is difficult to confirm (Human Rights Watch)
  • 4 decades - the length of Gadhafi's rule
  • $1.6 billion - the amount proposed by the European Investment Bank to support Egypt
  • 1 meeting - scheduled in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss ways to support Egypt and Libya
  • 1 hour - the time Gadhafi spoke on Libyan state television, vowing to die on Libyan soil

Sources:

  • Voice of America (VOA)
  • Human Rights Watch
  • Arab League
  • The United Nations
  • European Union