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8/31/11 (AEIN) Amnesty International has condemned the mistreatment of African immigrants and dark-skinned Libyans by rebel forces. The human rights organization's Senior Director urged the rebel group to investigate the abuses and bring to justice the perpetrators.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the human rights organization reported that its delegation saw groups of rebel fighters pulling dark-skinned men from their hospital beds, assaulting them and taking them to unknown locations. Rebels accuse the men of supporting Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi.
A day earlier the Chairman of the African Union voiced concerns about mistreatment of Africans by the rebels in Libya. Early in the rebellion that began months ago, several news reports indicated that anti-government rioters had attacked foreign workers from various parts of the world, particularly Asia.
Some Libyans are darker-skinned than others, particularly those from the city of Tawargha. At the same time, many people from sub-Saharan Africa have come to Libya for employment. Both are frequently accused of supporting or fighting for Gadhafi.