Libya cuts off the internet, protesters killed

Libyan troops have opened fire with machine-guns and large-calibre weapons on anti-government protesters in the second city Benghazi, according to witnesses quoted by the BBC.

An unknown number of protestors were killed, including children.

According to Human Rights Watch, at least 104 people have been killed in Benghazi, with hundreds injured.

Benghazi, about 1000 km from Tripoli, has been the main focus of the demonstrations against Colonel Muammar el-Qaddafi’s rule, 42-year rule.

Meanwhile, Arbor Networks, a US company that monitors worldwide internet traffic, reports that data collected from 30 providers around the world showed that online traffic in and out of Libya was disconnected abruptly at 1:15 p.m Saturday NZ time.

Libya is the second country to totally cut internet access.

The first was Egypt, on January 28.

Egypt restord internet access on February 2, shortly after President Hosni Mubarak pledged to stand down.


(2011-2-20/nbr.co.nz)