World
        

Politics

Libyans bury Gadhafi's son amid cries for revenge

Updated: 2011-05-04 07:53

(China Daily)

Twitter Facebook Myspace Yahoo! Linkedin Mixx

TRIPOLI, Libya - Libyans shouting for revenge have on Tuesday buried Muammar Gadhafi's second youngest son to the thundering sound of anti-aircraft fire, as rebels called for more international financial aid.

Libyans bury Gadhafi's son amid cries for revenge
Muammar Gadhafi's son Saif al-Islam Gadhafi (third from left) and his half-brother Mohamed Gadhafi (second from left) pray during the funeral of Saif al-Arab Gadhafi, the youngest son of Muammar Gadhafi, who was killed after airstrikes by coalition forces on Saturday, at the El Hani cemetery in Tripoli, Libya, on Monday. [Photo/Agencies]

Related readings:
Libyans bury Gadhafi's son amid cries for revenge Libya regrets damage to Western embassies
Libyans bury Gadhafi's son amid cries for revenge UK expels Libya envoy after attacks on embassy
Libyans bury Gadhafi's son amid cries for revenge Gaddafi says he will not leave Libya
Libyans bury Gadhafi's son amid cries for revenge Libya rebels say retake Tunisia border crossing

Libya's leader did not attend the funeral of 29-year-old Seif al-Arab on Monday, but older brothers Seif al-Islam and Mohammed paid their respects, thronged by a crowd of several thousand. Jostling to get closer to the coffin, draped with a green Libyan flag, mourners flashed victory signs and chanted "Revenge, revenge for you, Libya."

Three of Gadhafi's grandchildren, an infant and two toddlers, also died in Saturday's attack, which NATO says targeted one of the government command and control centers. Gadhafi and his wife were in the compound at the time, but escaped unharmed, Libyan officials said, accusing the alliance of trying to assassinate the Libyan leader.

NATO officials have denied they are hunting Gadhafi to break the battlefield stalemate between government troops and rebels trying for the past 10 weeks to depose him. Rebels largely control eastern Libya, while Gadhafi has clung to much of the west, including the capital, Tripoli.

Fierce battles have raged in Misrata, a besieged rebel-held city in western Libya, which has been shelled by Libyan forces every day in recent weeks. Records at one hospital showed that at least eight people were killed and 54 injured in shelling on Monday that lasted all morning and for a brief period during the afternoon.

Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said on Tuesday that China is concerned about the deaths and injuries of civilians caused by the escalating conflict in Libya.

China disapproves of any act beyond the authorization of the UN Security Council and hopes that all relevant parties will immediately cease fire and resolve the crisis politically through dialogue and other peaceful means, she said.

Libya's rebel leadership expects foreign powers to lend it $2 to 3 billion secured against frozen Libyan state assets held abroad, a rebel finance official said on Tuesday.

Ali Tarhouni, who heads the rebel national council's finance committee, said he expects France, Italy and the United States to extend the lines of credit and the money should arrive within a week to 10 days.

"I need about $2 to 3 billion, and we are hoping to get most or all of this," Tarhouni told reporters in the eastern rebel stronghold of Benghazi.

Rebels have repeatedly called on NATO to use more firepower against Libyan troops.

"We call on the world to deal with Gadhafi just as they dealt with bin Laden," said a Misrata doctor, referring to the killing of terror mastermind Osama bin Laden in Pakistan by US forces early on Monday. The doctor only gave his first name, Aiman, for fear of reprisals.

AP-Reuters-China Daily

Specials

Bin Laden dead

The world's most wanted man was killed in a US raid in Pakistan.

US-style sports camp

The US sports camp company, Camp Woodward, will open its first residential camp in Beijing in June.

Keeping modern dance on its toes

Modern dancers from all over China, both professional and amateur, are set to gather in Beijing to showcase their talents.

British Royal Wedding
The final frontier
Bridging the gap