'Pro-Gaddafi forces open fire killing rebels in Tripoli'

Report: Forces dressed in civilian clothes open fire on demonstrators in Tripoli market.

By REUTERS
Libya rebels waiting for a fight 311 Reu (photo credit: Asmaa Waguih / Reuters)
Libya rebels waiting for a fight 311 Reu
(photo credit: Asmaa Waguih / Reuters)
Several people were killed and others wounded on Monday after forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi opened fire to disperse a protest in the capital, the online edition of Quryna newspaper reported.
The protest in the Tajoura neighbourhood gathered close to 10,000 protesters, the Libyan newspaper said, quoting its correspondent in the capital Tripoli.
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"When the protesters reached the Souk Juma, they were joined by armed men from the Gaddafi battalion who were dressed as civilians and opened fire on the unarmed youths ... Many among the youths were wounded and killed," it said, referring to a market in Tripoli.
Meanwhile, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi accused Western countries of abandoning his government in its fight against "terrorists" in an interview with US television network ABC on Monday.
"I'm surprised that we have an alliance with the West to fight al Qaeda, and now that we are fighting terrorists they have abandoned us," Gaddafi, told ABC's Christiane Amanpour. "Perhaps they want to occupy Libya."
Click for full Jpost coverage of turmoil in the Middle East
Click for full Jpost coverage of turmoil in the Middle East
Gaddafi called US President Barack Obama a "good man" but said he appeared to be misinformed about the situation in Libya, ABC News reported on its website.
"The statements I have heard from him must have come from someone else," Gaddafi said. "America is not the international police of the world," he added.