Libyans Living In Colorado Celebrate News From Home
DENVER (CBS4) - They're celebrating in the streets of Tripoli where it appears the 42-year reign of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi is crumbling. Rebels now control significant portions of Libya's capitol, including the symbolic Green Square.
Rebel forces met little resistance as they rolled into Tripoli. Government forces fled and even took off their uniforms. The surprising advance came after six months of civil war.
The rebels captured Gaddafi's two sons in Tripoli. There have been no signs of the Libyan dictator, but he has been releasing audio statements asking supporters to rally to his defense. The rebels are demanding that he surrender.
Libyans living in Colorado are celebrating as well as many have been waiting decades for this moment.
For Mohamed Ben-Masaud the rebels advance on Tripoli is bittersweet because he has to watch it thousands of miles away.
"I want to go there and celebrate with them. I want to go there and see the joy and the happiness in the eyes of the children and the elders, for they have gone through so many years of agony and pain," Ben-Masaud said.
Al-Jazeera has been all Ben-Masaud can focus on. He was born in Tripoli but has lived in Denver for the three decades. He lived under Gaddafi's rule for eight years and left as soon as he could.
"I saw the country deteriorating every year," he said.
The rebels push to oust Gaddafi may not take very long. Right now Tripoli is falling with little resistance. Celebrations are pouring into the streets. Most of Ben-Masaud's family still lives in Libya and he spoke with them on the phone Sunday night.
"They are so happy. They are so relieved. Tripoli has been captured for the last six months since the uprising," he said. "It's like after the Super Bowl. People get very excited and very emotional and after that people will settle down."
Libyans who've moved to Colorado have had their minds a world away since the Arab spring. They demonstrated support through cold winter days. This is what they've been waiting for
"I think it's a closure, it's getting closure. There's a lot of joy, a lot of happiness that there is some change."
Some Libyans say they've avoided returning home for years. Now they're planning on returning in a few weeks.
