Reports from inside Libya say that the government has used machine guns to kill hundreds of anti-government protesters in the past few days of unrest aimed at ending the 42-year rule of Muammar Gaddafi. Opposition groups say the government has hired foreign nationals to crackdown on the peaceful demonstrators. Security forces allegedly shot dead dozens of protesters as they struggled to stamp out a revolt in Benghazi, as violence spread to nearby al Bayda and further west to Misratah. Libyan anti-government protests, emulating the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt that brought down dictators in power for decades, have not been deterred by the killings, and have continued their demonstrations calling for Gaddafi's removal. The government has also shut down all Internet services in the country, making information from inside the country difficult to come by. Snipers fired on thousands of people gathered in Benghazi, a focal point of the unrest, to mourn 35 protesters who were shot on Friday, a hospital official said. One hospital worker said 15 people were killed, including one man who was apparently hit in the head with an antiaircraft missile. The weapons apparently were used to intimidate the population. The official said many people were shot in the head and chest. The hospital was overwhelmed and people were streaming to the facility to donate blood, the Associated Press reported. Before Saturday's violence, Human Rights Watch had estimated 84 people have been killed. “Muammar Gaddafi's security forces are firing on Libyan citizens and killing scores simply because they're demanding change and accountability,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “Libyan authorities should allow peaceful protesters to have their say.” Muammar Gaddafi has ruled Libya for 42 years. The protests in Benghazi on February 18 began during funerals for the 20 demonstrators killed by security forces the day before. Eyewitnesses told Human Rights Watch that security forces with distinctive yellow uniforms opened fire on protesters near the Fadil Bu Omar Katiba, a security force base in the center of Benghazi. One protester told Human Rights Watch he witnessed four men shot dead. BM
