ONE DEAD AND 41 INJURED IN ARAB RIOTS IN TRIPOLI

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22948, 17 May 1949, Page 5

ONE DEAD AND 41 INJURED IN ARAB RIOTS IN TRIPOLI

TRIPOLI, May 15. Twenty-six Arabs and two police were injured today in Arab demonstrations in Tripoli against the British plan to transfer Tripolitania from British to Italian trusteeship in 1951. The total casualties for the week-end were one Arab killed and 35 Arabs, five Tripoli policemen and one British policeman injured. Police today threw tear-gas bombs to disperse fresh mass demonstrations by Arabs. With a continuance of the general strike the situation in Tripoli was tense and the curfew has been extended.

.Three thousand rioting Arab demonstrators attempted to storm the British administration headquarters, but were dispersed when the police used teargas bombs. After the demonstration a deputation of 30 Arab notables presented to the British chief administrator a petition repeating threats of civil resistance and non-co-operation because of the British Government’s policy.

A Benghazi message reports that Cyrenaicans in eastern Libya today joined Tripolitanians in denouncing the British plan for Tripoli. The Cyrenaicans’ demonstration, however, was peaceful.

Britisli women leaving the safety of theip homes in Tripoli today were given armed escorts, says the Daily Mail correspondent.

Tension is rising as the Arabs continue to demonstrate and British troops are standing by.

The Arabs have begun their proclaimed campaign of civil disobedience. All shops were shut today on what is normally Tripoli’s busiest dav and the people in the streets were confined almost entirely to the demonstrators.

Everybody is wondering what may happen on Tuesday if the United Nations General Assembly approves the Anglo-Italian plan. A British official stated: “In that case, this will really ‘blow up.’ ” The Daily Mail’s correspondent adds that the demonstrators waved banners and chanted “Russia! Russia!” Enthusiasm towards Russia is due to the Soviet’s attitude at the United Nations on Tripolitania and not to Communist sympathies, though police say that Italian Communists have been active in causing trouble. Banners in Arabic and English bore slogans like “Down with Bevin” and "We Will Fight for Freedom.” Arab friendship for Britain built up during the British administration has in one week been turned to extreme bitterness. Nothing can be clearer than that the Arabs will never accept Italian trusteeship.