As most Libyan still are too afraid of secrete government agents to express their ample discontent, three of Muammar al-Ghaddafi’s sons are preparing for a possible popular uprising. One is a reformist; two are hardliners.
Tunisia is Libya’s main western neighbour; Egypt its main eastern neighbour. Libya is flanked by revolution and ordinary Libyans are as fed up with leader Ghaddafi as Tunisians and Egyptians were with their rulers.
While Libya is North Africa’s by far richest nation due to its oil wealth and a modest population of 6.5 million, more than 40 years of "revolutionary rule" by Mr Ghaddafi has done little to smooth out social injustices. Ordinary families have little hope of creating a better future for their children and no channals to express their frustrations.
A boy looks at pictures of missing and killed Libyans in a street in Benghazi
Photograph: Suhaib Salem/Reuters
Photograph: Suhaib Salem/Reuters
Thousands of protesters gathered for Friday prayers and listened to a call to arms against government forces
Photograph: John Moore/Getty Images
Photograph: John Moore/Getty Images
Anti-Gaddafi protesters pray in the rain during Friday prayers at a square in Benghazi
Photograph: Hussein Malla/AP
Photograph: Hussein Malla/AP
Anti-Gaddafi protesters run from teargas fired by police in the Tajoura district of eastern Tripoli
Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP
Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP
Libyan opposition supporters demonstrate in Benghazi
Photograph: John Moore/Getty Images
Photograph: John Moore/Getty Images
Libyans pray in pouring rain in Benghazi
Photograph: Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images
Photograph: Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images
Protesters give the victory sign as they leave the Murad Agha mosque in Tajoura to demonstrate
Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP
Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP
Protesters shout anti-Gaddafi slogans after Friday prayers at the court square in Benghazi
Photograph: Hussein Malla/AP
Photograph: Hussein Malla/AP
Bangladeshi refugees among thousands in a three-mile-long queue from the Ras Jdir border post to the Choucha refugee camp
Photograph: Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images
Photograph: Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images
A Libyan woman holds her hands for prayer while another protester holds a pre-Gaddafi era Libyan flag during a demonstration in Benghazi
Photograph: Tiago Petinga/EPA
Photograph: Tiago Petinga/EPA
Libyans belonging to the anti-government forces are seen in Brega before advancing towards Ras Lanuf
Photograph: Khaled Elfiqi/EPA
Photograph: Khaled Elfiqi/EPA
People pass a building dressed with a huge old Libyan flag in Benghazi
Photograph: Hussein Malla/AP
Photograph: Hussein Malla/AP
Defected Libyan soldiers and volunteers shout and cheer on the outskirts of Brega
Photograph: Tara Todras-Whitehill/AP
Photograph: Tara Todras-Whitehill/AP
Anti-government forces in Brega
Photograph: Khaled Elfiqi/EPA
Photograph: Khaled Elfiqi/EPA
Heavily armed rebels clashed with loyalists
Photograph: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters
Photograph: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters
A rebel fighter takes cover from shelling
Photograph: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters
Photograph: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters
A rebel fighter holds a Kingdom of Libya flag
Photograph: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters
Photograph: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters
A Libyan rebel fighter mans a checkpoint near the town of Bishr
Photograph: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images
Photograph: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images
An injured Libyan rebel fighter is rushed into hospital
Photograph: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images
Photograph: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images
More injured people following clashes in Libya
Photograph: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images
Photograph: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images
