35 bodies found in mass grave
- 13 years ago
35 bodies were found in this mass grave, south west of Tripoli.
Amateur video shows human remains being unearthed and then wrapped.
It is believed the victims were tortured by forces loyal to deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi, before they were killed.
Victims belongings and identification documents were also unearthed.
The deceased were recognised by locals, after mobile phone footage taken by a Gaddafi soldier was found.
"Allah is great," mourners chanted as they carried the bodies to be buried in a mass funeral.
Throngs of people from nearby towns and villages joined for the emotional service at Martyr's cemetery near Al-Qalaa town.
One anti-Gaddafi fighter said the victims had been unarmed.
(SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) ANTI-GADDAFI FIGHTER, TALAL GARADAH, SAYING:
"Gaddafi forces killed them without any reason, they were unarmed, only God knows how I feel. I hope he accepts them as martyrs."
As the bodies were laid in their final resting place, mourners wept
and fighters fired volleys of shots over the graves.
Speaking after the funeral, the head of the Western region military council vowed those responsible would be brought to justice.
(SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) HEAD OF MILITARY COUNCIL FOR THE WESTERN REGION, MOQTAR FERNANAH SAYING:
"There are still many crimes and graves, and we will discover them. Our answer will be to capture these criminals and turn them over to the courts for fair trials. They will be punished in accordance with the crimes they committed."
Gaddafi and his son Saif al-Islam are wanted for crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
The British foreign secretary said any country where he is found should hand him over to face trial.
Marie-Claire Fennessy, Reuters
Amateur video shows human remains being unearthed and then wrapped.
It is believed the victims were tortured by forces loyal to deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi, before they were killed.
Victims belongings and identification documents were also unearthed.
The deceased were recognised by locals, after mobile phone footage taken by a Gaddafi soldier was found.
"Allah is great," mourners chanted as they carried the bodies to be buried in a mass funeral.
Throngs of people from nearby towns and villages joined for the emotional service at Martyr's cemetery near Al-Qalaa town.
One anti-Gaddafi fighter said the victims had been unarmed.
(SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) ANTI-GADDAFI FIGHTER, TALAL GARADAH, SAYING:
"Gaddafi forces killed them without any reason, they were unarmed, only God knows how I feel. I hope he accepts them as martyrs."
As the bodies were laid in their final resting place, mourners wept
and fighters fired volleys of shots over the graves.
Speaking after the funeral, the head of the Western region military council vowed those responsible would be brought to justice.
(SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) HEAD OF MILITARY COUNCIL FOR THE WESTERN REGION, MOQTAR FERNANAH SAYING:
"There are still many crimes and graves, and we will discover them. Our answer will be to capture these criminals and turn them over to the courts for fair trials. They will be punished in accordance with the crimes they committed."
Gaddafi and his son Saif al-Islam are wanted for crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
The British foreign secretary said any country where he is found should hand him over to face trial.
Marie-Claire Fennessy, Reuters