From a knowledgeable reader:
It is looking like the butchers bill is already in the thousands and will likely reach the tens of thousands before it is done.CNN reports that eastern Libya appears to be under opposition control.
Libya is a lot larger by area, but in terms of population is smaller than Tunisia (6.5 million vs 10 million). If the regimes in Algeria and Libya both fall and there are fair elections in all the countries toppled so far, that means a total of about 135 million people living under democracies rather than dictatorships. Or about 2% of the total global population.
Groups of men in civilian clothing, armed with weapons ranging from shotguns to machine guns, guarded streets in eastern Libya on Monday as opposition leaders appeared to be in firm control of much of the region.From Bloomberg, Qaddafi's son promises rivers of blood.
Opposition groups formed "popular committees" to maintain some sort of order after pushing out government forces in a spreading revolt against longtime strongman Moammar Gadhafi, who has led the north African country since 1969.
Libya erupted into violence last night after Muammar Qaddafi’s son threatened “rivers of blood” and deployed security forces on protesters, some of whom claimed control of the second-biggest city, Benghazi.
At least 250 people died in Tripoli alone, al-Jazeera reported, citing witnesses. Troops attacked “terror” hideouts and urged citizens to fight back the “organized gangs that are destroying Libya,” state television said. Amid the violence were signs that some officials and troops were deserting.
