Posted on 02/17/2006 3:49:04 PM PST by Cornpone
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Violent clashes between Libyan police and demonstrators at a protest over Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad killed at least one person on Friday, a government statement said.
Protesters had set fire to the Danish flag and cars as they tried to storm Italy's consulate in Benghazi, the only Western diplomatic mission in the northeastern city, the statement said.
Libya's government said there were 11 casualties, including dead, but an Italian consular employee quoted by Italian television spoke of nine killed and 55 wounded.
Libyan state television pictures showed battles between stone-throwing protesters and security forces carrying guns in the streets around a scorched building.
The footage showed police carrying away at least one casualty, while thick black smoke billowed from a burning car. The soundtrack to the television footage contained reports that sounded like gunshots.
Italy's foreign ministry said crowds had gathered outside its consulate.
"The Foreign Ministry has learnt that a crowd has again gathered around the Consulate General in Benghazi," it said, adding that Libyan security forces were protecting the site.
The ministry confirmed there was a fire on the first floor of the building, and said firemen had arrived at the scene.
A consulate employee told Sky Italia television that at least nine people had died and 55 had been injured.
"They should send in the military here. The police can't keep them back. It's getting worse here," said the employee, speaking from inside the consulate.
The Libyan government statement said some of the protesters had entered the Italian consulate and set fire to a section of the building.
"The protest was an irresponsible action which does not express the civilised behaviour of the Libyan people," it said. "An investigation must be opened by the authorities to probe the police action that resulted in such casualties."
Muhammad (((:~{>
Muhammad playing Little Orphan Annie
(((8~{>
Muhammad as a pirate
(((P~{>
Muhammad on a bad turban day
))):~{>
Muhammad with sand in his eye
(((;~{>
Muhammad wearing sunglasses
(((B~{>
Muhammad giving the raspberry.
(((:~{P>
Giving Muhammad the raspberry.
;-P
Muhammad with a bomb in his turban
*-O(:~{>
More cartoons? Look here:
http://www.retecool.com/comments.php?id=13539_0_1_0_C
Compared to e.g. this one:
http://www.retecool.com/ffvimg/img/58107833/101_483370a6f1410c53.jpg
the Danish cartoons were more than harmless.
I have been thinking about your parenthetical remark too. So the total is 11 islamists kill to 0 cartoonists so far?
I hate to say it, but too bad more weren't killed b/c the fewer head hunting Muslim's in the world, the better for the rest of civilization. Next thing you know they'll be eating people.
Well, it used to be that one could get 17 killed with one flushed Koran. Twelve cartoons have... how many? - well, way fewer than 17x12=204 total.
Send more mooslimes!
Sura 9:5 of the Koran, Slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush.
Muhammad (((:~{>
Muhammad playing Little Orphan Annie
(((8~{>
Muhammad as a pirate
(((P~{>
Muhammad on a bad turban day
))):~{>
Muhammad with sand in his eye
(((;~{>
Muhammad wearing sunglasses
(((B~{>
Muhammad giving the raspberry.
(((:~{P>
Giving Muhammad the raspberry.
;-P
Muhammad with a bomb in his turban
*-O(:~{>
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