EnglishLady
Veteran Expediter
BBC News Feb 19
Libya
Intense violence has been reported in Libya's second city, Benghazi, with troops said to have opened fire again on anti-government protesters.
At least 15 people were killed and many more wounded, unconfirmed reports say.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as snipers opened fire. Some reports spoke of machine-guns and mortar bombs being fired.
At least 84 people have died, rights groups say, but reports have been hard to verify amid tight controls.
US-based group Human Rights Watch said the 84 had died in Benghazi as well as in a number of other cities in eastern Libya.
BBC Middle East correspondent Jon Leyne says that for much of the day, it seemed as if the government had lost control of the eastern cities of al-Badai and Benghazi. Now witnesses in Benghazi are describing what sounds like a sustained battle with government forces, he adds.
Reports emerging from Libya are sketchy and sporadic, after the government moved to control internet access, but the Associated Press news agency and al-Jazeera television both said troops had opened fire on people attending a funeral on Saturday, killing 15.
More
BBC News - Libya protests: Reports of intense Benghazi violence
Bahrain
Thousands of anti-government protesters in Bahrain have resumed an occupation of Pearl Square, the focal point of protests in the capital Manama.
Jubilant protesters returned after riot police fired tear gas and shotgun rounds before withdrawing. Reports say some 60 people may have been injured.
The army, which guarded the square after using deadly force to clear it on Thursday, was earlier ordered out.
Bahrain's crown prince is holding initial talks with opposition parties
More
BBC News - Bahrain unrest: Protesters occupy symbolic Pearl Square
Libya
Intense violence has been reported in Libya's second city, Benghazi, with troops said to have opened fire again on anti-government protesters.
At least 15 people were killed and many more wounded, unconfirmed reports say.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as snipers opened fire. Some reports spoke of machine-guns and mortar bombs being fired.
At least 84 people have died, rights groups say, but reports have been hard to verify amid tight controls.
US-based group Human Rights Watch said the 84 had died in Benghazi as well as in a number of other cities in eastern Libya.
BBC Middle East correspondent Jon Leyne says that for much of the day, it seemed as if the government had lost control of the eastern cities of al-Badai and Benghazi. Now witnesses in Benghazi are describing what sounds like a sustained battle with government forces, he adds.
Reports emerging from Libya are sketchy and sporadic, after the government moved to control internet access, but the Associated Press news agency and al-Jazeera television both said troops had opened fire on people attending a funeral on Saturday, killing 15.
More
BBC News - Libya protests: Reports of intense Benghazi violence
Bahrain
Thousands of anti-government protesters in Bahrain have resumed an occupation of Pearl Square, the focal point of protests in the capital Manama.
Jubilant protesters returned after riot police fired tear gas and shotgun rounds before withdrawing. Reports say some 60 people may have been injured.
The army, which guarded the square after using deadly force to clear it on Thursday, was earlier ordered out.
Bahrain's crown prince is holding initial talks with opposition parties
More
BBC News - Bahrain unrest: Protesters occupy symbolic Pearl Square
Last edited:
