Libyan President Muammar al-Qaddafi apparently fears he may be next in line to face the wrath of his people.
The dictator, who has been head of the country for 40 years, had his security forces detain opponent Jamal al-Hajji, this week. He was arrested after posting a call for protest on the Internet. He asked that people across Libya rise up on March 2, to peacefully protest against Qaddafi. Al-Hajji was arrested in Tripoli on allegations that he hit a car and fled the scene of the accident.
Amnesty International is calling on the Libyan government to explain the allegations, which they say are unfounded. The group called Al-Hajji ” a prisoner of conscience.”
A North African official told The Washington Examiner that the Libyan dictator has been extremely concerned with the situation in Egypt and was watching the crisis unfold from his home there.
“Qaddafi has reason to worry,” said the official. “He may not have much time left. Egypt and Tunisia are just the beginning of change.”
U.S. Intelligence officials would not comment extensively on the situation in Libya, only to say that “it faces many of the same tensions.”
On Thursday Qaddafi called Mubarak to offer support, according to reports from the region. Qaddafi earlier criticized the ousting of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia.
