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Libyan citizens drive the extremists out

An important event happened in Benghazi Libya on Friday. Ten days after the terrorist attack on the American Embassy that left Ambassador Stevens and three other Embassy staffers dead and the Embassy destroyed, the Libyan people themselves turned on the extremist minority that had carried out that attack.

This really should be HEADLINE news as it shows that the hope engendered by the Arab Spring has given ordinary citizens in countries formerly under dictatorial rule, real belief that they have the power to change the situation.

TAM posted last week about previous demonstrations in Libya against the Embassy attack. Libyans protesting in Benghazi: Images You Won’t See in the Media. If you type “Libya” into the TAM search engine, many articles will come up about previous developments in Libya. Also, in our collection of statements and condemnations Muslim, Arab, & Interfaith Organizations Condemn Attacks on U.S. Embassies you will find many statements by Libyans themselves.

Here are key points about this incident from media around the world. There is a lot happening, and it requires reading a lot of different sources to put together even the outline of what is going on.

Al Arabiya reports that an estimated 30,000 Libyans came out for a “Save Benghazi” protest against the influence of militias, and those who attacked the American Embassy. Hundreds of the protesters attacked the main Salafi militia base and burned it, forcing the Salafis out. At the same time as the large protest, a jihadist group Ansar al-Sharia could only attract a few hundred people.....