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Obama Speech Buoys Residents in Rebel-Held Eastern Libya

   Scott Bobb | Benghazi, Libya  March 29, 2011
   Libyan  rebels  jump  onto the back of their vehicle as they leave Ras
   Lanouf in central Libya after Gadhafi's forces drove the rebels out of
   Bin Jawwad, a hamlet east of Sirte, March 29, 2011

Photo: AP

   Libyan rebels jump onto back of their vehicle as they leave Ras Lanouf
   in  central  Libya  after  Gadhafi's  forces  drove  rebels out of Bin
   Jawwad, a hamlet east of Sirte, March 29, 2011

   Residents  of  eastern  Libya under the control of opponents of leader
   Moammar Gadhafi are reacting with approval to President Barack Obamaâs
   remarks  Monday  night  on the international coalitionâs role in their
   countryâs conflict. But many say they wish the coalition would do more
   to help them.

   A spokesman for the Provisional Council governing eastern Libya, Essam
   Gheriani,  said  Tuesday  that  Obamaâs  message sought to balance the
   needs   of   the  Libyan  opposition  with  the  expectations  of  the
   international community and American people.
   "He  has  to comply with the resolution of the Security Council number
   1973.  The  imposition  of  the  no-fly  zone  was  accomplished.  The
   protection of the civilian population is being carried out quite well.
   Benghazi  was  saved,  actually,  by the strikes carried here out last
   Saturday," said Gheriani.
   Gheriani  expressed  concern, however, over the siege of Libyaâs third
   largest  city,  Misrata.  He  said it has been virtually sealed off by
   pro-Gadhafi  troops  and is facing a humanitarian crisis due to a lack
   of food and medicine.
   Other  residents  here  said  they  wished the international coalition
   would  go  further  and  provide  arms  to  the  opposition. They said
   otherwise resistance will be long and hard against the Libyan leaderâs
   better trained and better equipped forces.
   Lawyer Ramadan Shembesh disagreed with the desire expressed by several
   Western  leaders  for  a  peaceful  end to Gadhafiâs 41-year-old rule.
   "Gadhafi  will  never  leave peacefully. We know that. And he said so.
   From  the  beginning  he  said, 'I will never go out of the country. I
   will stay until the last drop of my blood.'"
   Engineer Farage Omar, who was a political prisoner for two years, said
   he  understood  the  concerns,  especially in the Arab world, over any
   foreign   military   intervention  in  the  region.  He  said  Libyaâs
   situation,  though,  is  different  from countries like Afghanistan or
   Iraq.
   "Now  we  feel  that  they  [the  coalition] have really fulfilled the
   humane  part that we deal with and they understand us. And I wish they
   continue  with this, not just until after Gadhafi goes, but support us
   until we make a democratic country that stands with strong feet on the
   ground."
   Omar  said  most  Libyans  are seeking the establishment of democratic
   institutions  that will allow them to choose their leaders and form of
   government and live in freedom.

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