Libya: Fleeing civilians witness bombing and shelling descimating Sirte population

[Distant Observer]

The brutality of murderous power struggle is unveiled as the mask of "protecting civilians" falls off with the pounding of long-range missiles, tank shells and Grad rockets.

The Western powers are now obviously supporting one armed faction in the ruthless destruction of their opposition.

Where is the voice of "humanitarian" concern now?

http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/09/25/idINIndia-59526920110925

NATO bombing missions pound Qaddafi’s hometown

(Reuters) - NATO bombing raids hammered the Libyan city of Sirte on Sunday to clear the way for fighters with the Libyan interim government who are trying to capture Muammar Gaddafi's hometown.

. . .

On Sunday, the roar of jet engines could be heard overhead, and sporadic booms when NATO ordnance hit targets on the ground. One strike, giving off a deep thud, released a big cloud of smoke and dust over the south of the city.

"NATO has dropped a lot of bombs today," said one rebel fighter, who declined to give his name. "You can see the planes up above. They struck along here," he said, gesturing with his hand across the area south of the city centre.

NATO's support for the anti-Gaddafi rebellion played a major part in toppling Gaddafi and the alliance says it will keep up its operations for as long as needed.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/09/26/libya-sirte-nato-gadhafi.html

Civilians flee Gadhafi's hometown of Sirte

Hundreds of civilians fled Moammar Gadhafi's hometown Monday to escape growing shortages of food and medicine and escalating fears that their homes will be struck during fighting between revolutionary forces and regime loyalists.

. . .

Civilians fleeing Sirte Monday described grave shortages of food, fuel, drinking water and medicine.

'Most of the people killed or injured recently are from the shelling.' — Dr. Eman Mohammed, Ibn Sina Hospital

Eman Mohammed, a 30-year-old doctor at the city's central Ibn Sina Hospital, said the facility was short on most medicines and had no oxygen in the operating rooms. She said most days, patients who reach the hospital find no one to treat them because fuel shortages and fear keep staff from coming to work.

She said many recent injuries appear to be caused by revolutionary forces. "Most of the people killed or injured recently are from the shelling," she said.

Forces on the city's outskirts fire tank shells, Grad rockets and mortars toward the city daily, with little more than a general idea of what they are targeting. NATO, meanwhile, is operating in Libya under a mandate to protect civilians.

Mohammed, who is from the Warfala tribe that has traditionally supported Gadhafi, said most of the fighters in the city are armed volunteers fighting for personal reasons.

[blindpig]

1. k&r