Libya ex-ambassador: Africa mercenaries used in crackdown

Libya's ambassador to India, who resigned following a crackdown on protests, told Reuters on Tuesday African mercenaries were being used by the authorities, prompting some army troops to switch sides to the opposition.   

"They are from Africa, and speak French and other languages," Ali al-Essawi said in an interview, adding that he was receiving information from sources within the OPEC-member country.

"They (army troops switching to back the protests) are Libyans and they cannot see foreigners killing Libyans so they moved beside the people," Essawi said.   

Libya's ambassador to India said he had resigned due to the unprecedented violence against the Libyan people.