Libyan nationals stage protest amid delegation’s visit to Malta

A group of Libyan nationals living in Malta staged a protest in Valletta as a Libyan delegation, led by the foreign minister, is in Malta for talks.

The Libyans are calling for "true democracy" to start prevailing in the war-torn country, accusing Prime Minister Ali Zeidan of being responsible of the ongoing fights.

The North African country is still struggling with a security vacuum and the threat of internecine conflict.

The Libyans also expressed concern over the presence of Foreign Minister Emhammed Abdul Aziz in Malta, who they described as "a crook" and "a liar". Aziz is in Malta for talks on joint cooperation in health, education, culture, energy and commerce.

A memorandum of understanding between the two countries will be signed this afternoon.

At one point, police officers intervened to stop the protest. But when the Libyans insisted they were "Maltese citizens" as well and they were doing nothing wrong, the police allowed them to stay.

Public anger in Tripoli has been on the rise following last Friday's massacre in Gharghour.  The Libya Herald reports that dozens of city residents held a vigil in which they expressed their regrets for the events in Tripoli and invoked mercy on the souls of those who had lost their lives. The sense of sadness was palpable and one man at the vigil called the Gharghour slayings "a terrible crime".