The 2011 Libyan protests are part of the 2010--2011 Arab world protests. First street protests started on February 15, 2011. More than a dozen demonstrators have been killed in clashes with pro-government groups and secret police. 17 February: "Day of Rage" A "Day of Rage" in Libya and by Libyans in exile was planned for 17 February. The National Conference for the Libyan Opposition stated that "all" groups opposed to Muammar al-Gaddafi in Libya and in exile planned protests against Gaddafi on 17 February, in memory of demonstrations in Benghazi on 17 February 2006 that were initially against the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons and became protests against al-Gaddafi. The plans to protests were inspired by the 2010--2011 Tunisian and Egyptian uprisings. In early February, Gaddafi met with "Libyan political activists, journalists, and media figures" and "warned" them that they would be "held responsible" if they participated "in any way in disturbing the peace or creating chaos in Libya". Protests on the Day of Rage took place in four cities in Libya. In Benghazi, a government authority released 30 prisoners from jail, armed them and paid them in order to fight against protestors. Several demonstrators were killed by snipers and gunfire from helicopters. The London Evening Standard estimate that 14 were killed. Al Jazeera English estimates that at least 14 were killed since the previous day (16 February). In Ajdabiya at least 10 have been killed by police. In Benghazi, Al...
