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| Bani Walid protesters storm Libyan parliament grounds | Bani Walid protesters storm Libyan parliament grounds |
| (30 days later) | |
| Demonstrators have broken into the grounds of Libya's parliament, wounding two security guards, in a protest against the continuing fighting in Bani Walid, a former stronghold of Muammar Gaddafi. | Demonstrators have broken into the grounds of Libya's parliament, wounding two security guards, in a protest against the continuing fighting in Bani Walid, a former stronghold of Muammar Gaddafi. |
| More than 300 protesters from the town forced their way past perimeter security guards, opening fire on police inside the grounds and wounding one man in the neck and leg, before smashing the glass on the main doors to the national congress hall. | More than 300 protesters from the town forced their way past perimeter security guards, opening fire on police inside the grounds and wounding one man in the neck and leg, before smashing the glass on the main doors to the national congress hall. |
| Fighting in Bani Walid, 90 miles south-east of Tripoli, continued for a fifth day, with the government yet to provide proof of its assertion that Gaddafi's youngest son, Khamis, was killed in the town on Saturday. | Fighting in Bani Walid, 90 miles south-east of Tripoli, continued for a fifth day, with the government yet to provide proof of its assertion that Gaddafi's youngest son, Khamis, was killed in the town on Saturday. |
| On Sunday evening the parliament was ringed by troops and militiamen, some firing warning shots in the air. Around the front of the congress building, a converted conference centre, were spent brass cartridge casings, smoke grenade canisters and torn placards. One read: "We will die before we surrender Bani Walid." | On Sunday evening the parliament was ringed by troops and militiamen, some firing warning shots in the air. Around the front of the congress building, a converted conference centre, were spent brass cartridge casings, smoke grenade canisters and torn placards. One read: "We will die before we surrender Bani Walid." |
| "They marched up to the gates and then they put the women in the first line, and the women pushed through the security," said Jalal Abdulla of the presidential police. "Two of our guys were shot, one in the neck and leg." | "They marched up to the gates and then they put the women in the first line, and the women pushed through the security," said Jalal Abdulla of the presidential police. "Two of our guys were shot, one in the neck and leg." |
| Although repelled, the attempted storming of the parliament, while it was in session, is a further blow to Libya's prestige as the new prime minister, Ali Zidan, struggles to form a cabinet and convince the outside world he can control security. The congress, elected in July, was previously stormed by unarmed protesters claiming they were under-represented among the 200 MPs. | Although repelled, the attempted storming of the parliament, while it was in session, is a further blow to Libya's prestige as the new prime minister, Ali Zidan, struggles to form a cabinet and convince the outside world he can control security. The congress, elected in July, was previously stormed by unarmed protesters claiming they were under-represented among the 200 MPs. |
| The crisis in Bani Walid seems only to be escalating. The weekend saw the heaviest fighting yet, with 22 soldiers killed and more than 200 wounded, and no reliable casualty figures from inside the town. The main hospital in Misrata, the main base for operations, was choked with wounded, in scenes not seen since last year's Arab spring. | The crisis in Bani Walid seems only to be escalating. The weekend saw the heaviest fighting yet, with 22 soldiers killed and more than 200 wounded, and no reliable casualty figures from inside the town. The main hospital in Misrata, the main base for operations, was choked with wounded, in scenes not seen since last year's Arab spring. |
| During a lull in the battle, several hundred families took the chance to leave, driving in a long convoy north out of the Saharan town. | During a lull in the battle, several hundred families took the chance to leave, driving in a long convoy north out of the Saharan town. |
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