Libyan Students In Denver Worried About Situation In Home Country
DENVER (CBS4)- Dozens of college students from Libya are in Denver studying English as a second language. Their scholarships from back home could be in jeopardy if Gadhafi is forced out.
A new language is tough enough. The Libyan students must also deal with deadly distractions. The violence back home is blamed on forces loyal to Gadhafi.
"Of course I'm against him, no normal leader of a country can kill this number of people just to stay in power," student Basma Idris.
Loqman Mohamed learned his brother-in-law was shot between the eyes.
"They are well trained militia, snipers, they are using machine guns … it is a horrific crime, we expect this," Mohamed said.
There are 25 Libyans are enrolled at the Language Consultants International Center in Denver.
"The number one thing that has come out from my students is a deep, deep concern for their families," LCI instructor Tamara Carlin said.
Every student CBS4 talked to said the same thing -- Gadhafi must leave office now.
It costs $3,000 for each Libyan student to attend a 10-week session at the center. All of the scholarship money comes from the Libyan government, but if Gadhafi goes it's not clear who will foot the bill.
Follow the latest developments in Libya at CBSNews.com.
There's no easy answer. Schools officials believe there's enough money for 3 months in the scholarship pipeline. But all bets are off once that runs out.
"We are worried," said Ben Ghuzzi, a U.S. citizen who is friends of the Libyan students. "We're hoping there is no cutoff in scholarship
But they say losing the money and being forced to go home would all be worth it if Gadhafi is forced out.
Libyans are the fastest growing source of foreign students in the U.S. since President Bush restored relations with the Gadhafi regime in 2006.
