LIBYA: Colonels defected to Malta rather than bomb protesters

The pilots of two Libyan military jets that landed in Malta on Monday are "senior colonels" who were ordered to bomb protesters, Al Jazeera satellite network reports.

The colonels say they refused to bomb protesters demonstrating against Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi and instead defected to Malta, according to Al Jazeera reporter Karl Stagno-Novarra in Malta.

The pilots reportedly told Maltese officials they were based in Tripoli and ordered to attack protesters in Benghazi.  After seeing fellow pilots begin bombing, the colonels changed course and headed for Malta, according to Al Jazeera.

Al Jazeera has been relaying eyewitness reports of airstrikes Monday, but cautioned that the bombings  could not be verified.

Clashes in the Libyan capital of Tripoli on Monday left 160 dead, Al Arabiya network quoted eyewitnesses as saying Monday.

Related:

European Union condemns Libya violence; protests flare in Tripoli

LIBYA: U.S. issues travel warning, begins evacuating personnel

Video, photos appear to show protests turning violent in Libya

-- Molly Hennessy-Fiske

Comments

[James Catania]

@ Joseph,

I am a proud citizen of Malta, and I do not speak for all Maltese, but I am sure for the majority of them. Although we sometimes get bad reputation on news, due to illegal immigrants conditions in Malta, we have NEVER, NEVER turned on someone in need. This is not only to Muslims, but to all religions.

Whatever, you might have heard before on the news and other media, we as a nation, with all our faults as any other peoples, strive to always make the right choices, and help whenever we can with whatever we have (which is not a lot), but if someone turns to Malta for a shoulder of support we will never deny that crucial principal which is social responsibility and just plain human nature.

[OverThair]

You sign on as W. Lincoln and write, "the American Government hasn't in the history of the American Military ordered troops to turn their weapons on American Citizens." That is either great gallows humor or you sir are one of the least informed people on the planet in matters pertaining to the American government ordering the military to slaughter American citizens.

[Ulysses SG]

To W Lincoln:

Re: "Second, the American Government hasn't in the history of the American Military have ordered troops to turn their weapons on American Citizens. However, during protests that have the capability to morph into a dangerous situation the militia presence is to promote peace keeping."

What about Kent State on 04 May 1970?

"The battle lasted only 13 seconds, yet it became the Dien Bien Phu of the American involvement in the Vietnam War. On May 4, 1970, on the sunny campus of Kent State University, Ohio National Guardsmen opened fire on unarmed students. Their bullets wounded nine and killed four."

Reference: http://www.commondreams.org/views/050300-103.htm

[Jim]

W. Lincoln said:

"Second, the American Government hasn't in the history of the American Military have ordered troops to turn their weapons on American Citizens. However, during protests that have the capability to morph into a dangerous situation the militia presence is to promote peace keeping."

Not true. The military fired on veterans during the bonus army march on Washington in 1932 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonus_Army

and there was the minor incident in th 1860's known as the civil war.

[EvetsChar]

I think this story is false. Ill bet it is a planted story to try to encourage other Libyian military to do the same. I wonder if this sort of thing will ever happen in the USA ? Would our goverment turn its police an military on protestors ? ..naw..couldnt wouldnt ever happen here.

[Pontius]

Dear W. Lincoln,

In the attached commentary, you posited: "the American Government hasn't in the history of the American Military have[sic] ordered troops to turn their weapons on American Citizens."

Please research the "Bonus Army of 1932" and read of the treatment of WWI veterans at the hands of MacArthur, Patton and Eisenhower--as ordered by President Hoover.

Thank you.

[Patrick]

I sure hope they had a plan for their families back home before they decided to make expensive pieces of military equipment disappear. No telling what kind of things that government would do to them.

[W. Lincoln]

to BcBera,

First, you have no idea what it means to serve in the military since from your statement you target the personnel serving.

Second, the American Government hasn't in the history of the American Military have ordered troops to turn their weapons on American Citizens. However, during protests that have the capability to morph into a dangerous situation the militia presence is to promote peace keeping.

Perhaps you should think before you type.

[barry gateaux]

shocked at the comments here - how did the 2nd one past moderation?

america - home of racist paranoids obviously.

[Brian]

Once the Gaddafi's are removed from power these two Pilots will be hailed as heroes and welcomed back to Libya with open arms.

[sarah]

I just saw that comments are moderated. In that case, Joseph and whomever approved his hateful comment should BOTH be ashamed of themselves.

[sarah]

This is an amazing example of good in the face of extreme evil.

And Joseph, you ought to be ashamed of yourself.

[Common Sense]

So... that comment by BcBera is awesome. I mean, I thought it was awesome until Realized that Bc might be serious. BcBera?

[common-sense]

These colonels are heroes and I agree with BcBera. 'nuff said.

[nathan]

Ah it's good to see conspiracy nuts making comments about "American's turning their guns"

[BcBera]

Let this be an example to anyone serving in the U.S. military. When you are ordered to turn your guns on Americans, don't you dare follow that order, for you are an American too. Instead, turn your guns on the traitors who gave the orders.

[Joseph]

It's good that they refused to attack unarmed civilians. However, if I were Malta I would send them to Turkey or some other half way moderate Islamic country. You don't want any muslims breeding in your land. Once they get enough people in any country they start their rioting, attacking nonmuslims, burning churches, beheadings, raping nonmuslim women, etc. Just saying, look around the world wherever muslims live.

[Bruce]

Or, they dropped them somewhere safe before landing...

[Bruce]

I don't see any bombs hanging from the pylon... Might mean they are only using machine gun fire...

[bryan herring]

What kind of aircraft were they flying? Who will take them over and for how much?