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Libyans fleeing remote western region
Hundreds of Libyans are fleeing attacks by pro-government forces in the Western Mountains region, escaping into Tunisia.
News media report that yesterday hundreds of Libyans fled across the border to escape the violent attacks. A Tunisian who is helping Libyans arriving in Tunisia said their number is very large, always increasing.
“They are in thousand. Hundreds arrived a few minutes ago. They are from several areas including Nalut, Yafran and Rajban,” he said, communicating by phone.
The Tunisian also said rockets had landed in al-Ghazaia, Libya.
The Western Mountains region is populated by Berbers, a group ethnically distinct from most Libyans. They are tradition viewed with “suspicion” by Libyan Col Muammar Gaddafi.
But when people in Benghazi started the revolution against Gaddafi and his regime, the Berbers joined in.
Tunisia’s state news agency said nearly 4,000 Libyans fleeing the western region have crossed over into the Tataouine region in the last 10 days.
