African mercenaries are being used by Libya to crush protests, prompting some army troops to switch sides to the opposition, LibyaÂ’s ambassador to India, who resigned in the wake of the crackdown, said on Tuesday.
“They are from Africa, and speak French and other languages,” Ali al-Essawi told Reuters in an interview, adding that he was receiving information from sources within the OPEC-member country.
| We still don't know exactly where the mercenaries are from; French speaking and dark-skinned suggests (as noted by Pappy) Chad. But it's clear they're being put to use. |
Essawi, who has left the embassy since he resigned on Monday to protest the violent crackdown and is now staying at a hotel in New Delhi, said he had been told there had been army defections.
“They (troops) are Libyans and they cannot see foreigners killing Libyans so they moved beside the people,” Essawi said.
“Libyans cannot do anything against the air fighters. We do not call for international troops, but we call on the international community to save the Libyans,” Essawi said. “Fighter aircraft were bombing civilians on the streets of Tripoli, this is unprecedented violence." |