Libyan army chief under house arrest

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/166373.html

The Libyan government has put the country's army chief under house arrest after several military units defected and joined anti-Gaddafi protesters in various cities.

This comes after hundreds of soldiers stopped short of firing live rounds at pro-democracy protesters on Monday.

Libya's permanent representative to the Arab League Abdel Moneim al-Honi confirmed the detention, claiming that "I have confirmed information saying Libyan army chief General Abu-Bakr Yunis Jabil is now under house arrest."

Al-Honi recently resigned over the heavy-handed security crackdown on protesters.

Muammar Gaddafi's regime is still clinging to power in the face of mounting pressure from pro-democracy Libyan protesters.

The Libyan government has been resorting to extreme measures to cripple the revolution.

There are reports of complete communication shutdown in the country including internet and cell phones.

There have also been reports that Libyan security forces used live rounds and fighter jet fire against protesters in Tripoli.

Pro-democracy protesters have seized several cities, including Benghazi, Sirte and the border town of al-Zawiya, reports said on Saturday.

The International Federation for Human Rights says as many as 400 people have been killed so far in the revolution.

Amid growing violence, a number of Libyan embassy employees in Sweden have defected in protest at the government crackdown.

There have been unconfirmed reports that Gaddafi has fled the country.

The developments come as popular revolutions continue to sweep the US-backed autocratic regimes across the Middle East and North Africa.