Free Libya supporters gathered outside the Libyan Embassy in Knightsbridge today
following news that Gaddafi’s regime has been ousted from power.
The celebrating Libyans arrived throughout the day to show their support for the rebels by
waving flags and shouting chants such as ‘Freedom’.
Basma El Mesmari, the niece of the head of Libya’s transition government, used to work
for the Libyan Embassy in Lebanon and now works at the embassy in Knightsbridge. The
29 year-old spoke of her joy at the end of Gaddafi’s regime, revealing that last night was
the first time she was able to speak to her family without fear of being monitored. Miss
Mesmari added that she was looking forward to joining her family in her home country as
soon as possible.
She said: ‘I’m so happy because all my family are there and in Libya where there has been
no international calls, no internet, people from my family have died. For six months until
yesterday there has been lots of things happening in Libya.
‘People have been killed and their homes taken.
‘It was the first time in my life I could speak to my family freely. Before if they said
something wrong about Gaddafi someone from Gaddafi’s regime would come to their
house.’
Political leaders and Libyan exiles celebrated across the world as rebel forces made
ground in Tripoli.
Dozens of Libyan residents stormed their country’s embassy in the Turkish capital of
Ankara to set fire to posters of the Gaddafi.
In Malta, around 200 Libyans entered their embassy to fly the tricolour flag of the rebel
forces, after setting fire to pictures of the Libyan leader.
Police were called to Sarajevo, Bosnia, after a group of Libyans forced their way into the
embassy and demanded the resignation of the ambassador. The protestors then threw
Gaddafi’s pictures out of the windows and raised the rebels’ flag.
