With violence at high levels in Libya, non-combatant civilians in the country told Bikya Masr on Tuesday morning they are fearful that continued attacks from the government and a planned offensive by opposition forces in the country could lead to mass death and all-out civil war in the North African country. It comes after Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi continued a campaign of violence against civilians calling for his removal on Monday, bombing cities held by rebels. “It is shocking what has become of this country and we are all scared,” said 24-year-old Sara from her home in Tripoli where she is currently visiting family. The British national told Bikya Masr that the country is headed toward a real and dangerous civil war. “Gaddafi is a tyrant, but he also seems crazy and the manner in which he is using violence and bombing is horrible and wrong. What needs to happen is the implementation of a no-fly zone that is enforced by the international community. If this doesn't happen soon, we all fear that thousands of people will be killed and Libya will fall into massive chaos,” she said. Gaddafi's efforts to win back eastern Libya, which he lost over a week ago, have suffered repeated blows after the defections of some of his top pilots, who have either flown to Malta or ejected from their cockpits after being ordered to bomb rebel positions. For the millions of Libyans like Sara, the violence is quickly spiraling out of control. What was once a heartened opposition protest movement has turned into what could be a war of territory, she and others cramped into their Tripoli flat believe. “I believe 100 percent that Gaddafi needs to be removed, but taking up arms and attacking the government forces will not get us the country we want, it will destroy it,” said Sara's cousin Abdelrahman. He argued that if the rebels decide to use violence in an attempt to take over the country, “we risk a situation that will end in civil war with different groups taking sides.” He discounted any tribal leanings in the current situation facing Libya, adding that “Libyans are a family-oriented society, but the idea sometimes being heard by Westerners about tribal warfare and all that is wrong. We are a modern people who want freedom from a man who has corrupted and killed too many for the past 40 years,” he said. Still, the rebel forces now being referred to by foreign media as an “insurrection” plan to push on with their own campaign against Gaddafi. Gaddafi's forces were pushed out of the east over a week ago and they left behind a number of MiG and Mirage fighter jets. Leaders of the opposition say they have as many as 15 warplanes in their possession and are ready to bomb Gaddafi's main base in Tripoli if called on for reinforcement by their supporters in the city. Such plans could be thrown into disarray by a no-fly zone, rebel officials have said. For those caught in the crossfire, families like Sara's, the sentiment is the international community must intervene soon in order to end the bloodshed that has already left thousands dead, rights groups have reported. “We all want a free Libya, but is war the answer to this? I don't know, but I do know that if the rebels fight back with bombs, they will be met with more bombs and more death. This is not Libya,” she added. BM
