Protest erupts in Libya's streets - and calls: 'Let the government fall'

A new wave of protest in western Libya, sparked by anger over power outages and the high cost of living, is expanding into a political struggle against the Government of National Unity. Protesters in Tripoli and other cities are blocking roads, shutting down institutions, and threatening energy facilities. The electricity company warns of a total blackout.

A new wave of protest is expanding in western Libya in recent days, at its center - public anger over prolonged power outages and the deterioration of basic services. The demonstrations, which began around daily hardships, have taken on a political dimension: protesters in the capital Tripoli and other cities are calling for the overthrow of the Government of National Unity headed by Abdul Hamid al-Dbeibeh, and threaten to escalate civil disobedience. In Tripoli, protesters blocked the highway and set fires, and shut down government institutions by unloading trucks filled with sand and rocks at the entrances. In other cities in western Libya, they joined the civil disobedience, and in Tajoura, protesters blocked the entrance to the headquarters of the Infrastructure and Housing Authority. In the past 24 hours, the protest reached the Mellitah oil and gas complex, where protesters blocked the road and prevented workers from entering. Among the demands - stopping gas exports to Italy. Libya's electricity company warned that the closure of fuel supply lines at Mellitah caused a decrease in gas quantities to electricity generation units, and if the situation continues, generation units may go out of service and lead to the collapse of the entire grid, up to a 'total blackout'.