Human Rights Watch: Libya Crackdown on Protests Kill 24

Libyan security forces killed at least 24 people in a violent crackdown on anti-regime demonstrations during a "Day of Anger" against strongman Moammer Gadhafi, Human Rights Watch said Friday.

The New York-based rights group, citing witnesses, said 24 protesters were killed and scores injured during Thursday's assaults on protests in two Libyan cities.

"The authorities should cease the use of lethal force unless absolutely necessary to protect lives and open an independent investigation into the lethal shootings," HRW said in a statement.

The worst violence hit the eastern city of al-Baida where hospital staff put a call out on Thursday for additional medical supplies to treat 70 injured protestors, half in critical condition, said the rights group.

One injured protester sitting near the hospital's intensive care unit told Human Rights Watch that security forces had used live ammunition to deter protesters, fatally shooting 16 of them and wounding dozens others.

In Benghazi, hundreds of lawyers, activists, and other protesters gathered on the steps of the court on Thursday calling for a constitution and respect for the rule of law.

A protester told Human Rights Watch that groups of men in street clothes armed with knives, later joined by internal security forces, charged into the crowd to disperse the demonstration.

He said he believed security forces had shot dead at least 17, Human Rights Watch said, adding that it was able to confirm eight of those deaths.

"The security forces' vicious attacks on peaceful demonstrators lay bare the reality of Moammer Gadhafi's brutality when faced with any internal dissent," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at HRW.

"Libyans should not have to risk their lives to make a stand for their rights as human beings," she said.