TRIPOLI: All Arab officials left their posts, public services were at a standstill, and new mass demonstrations flared up in Tripolitania today [May 17]. Troops stood by as fresh large demonstrations were staged. The Arabs were acting in accordance with the civil disobedience policy, proclaimed yesterday by their leaders against the Bevin-Sforza Agreement, which would transfer Tripolitania from British to Italian trusteeship in 1951.

Tripoli saw its biggest demonstration so far yesterday when a crowd of 20,000 strong shouted anti-British and anti-Italian slogans. The demonstration was organised like a military parade and the police did not have to intervene. Several thousand people headed by horsemen, also demonstrated at Suk el-Juma and Zansur, where the offices of the administration were closed. This group then started to march on Tripoli, but were stopped half way by the Mufti who persuaded them to return to their villages. Other demonstrations took place in towns and provinces all over Tripolitania, where tribesmen threatened to resort to arms against the return of Italians.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2024