“This is an urgent appeal from religious scholars, intellectuals, and elders from Tripoli, Bani Walid, Zintan, Jadu, Msalata, Misrata, Zawiah, and other towns and villages of the western area,” the appeal, signed by the group of leaders, stated. “We appeal to every Muslim, within the regime or assisting it in any way, to recognise that the killing of innocent human beings is forbidden by our Creator and by His beloved prophet of compassion, peace be to him… Do not kill your brothers and sisters. Stop the massacre now!” By February 20, Col. Gaddafi’s heavily armed thugs have killed more than 300 unarmed people. The killings began on February 18 when Gaddafi’s security forces shooting into the crowds in Benghazi. Then the next day, as masses of people turned up to oppose Gaddafi, the colonel sent in helicopters to machine gun the people from the air. Benghazi’s hospitals are full of dead and dying people. Hundreds have been injured.
Gaddafi’s army is now split and some units in Benghazi have joined the Islamic masses. Some military vehicles siding with Gaddafi have been burned, along with the police headquarters in Benghazi. On February 20, In Benghazi, Gaddafi’s forces started mass arrests of new protestors. In Al-Bayda, a city which was taken over by protestors, Gaddafi sent in his mercenary forces which have killed 25 people. In Tripoli, which is Gaddafi’s stronghold, the protests were easily crushed. He, in turn, led a procession denouncing the protestors. However demonstrations have now spread to all cities in Libya.