Reported use of heavy weapons may be war crime - The Irish Times - Mon, Feb 21, 2011

Reported use of heavy weapons may be war crime - The Irish Times - Mon, Feb 21, 2011: "EYEWITNESS REPORTS from Benghazi in eastern Libya state that pro-Gadafy forces are using anti-aircraft weapons and heavy machine guns against civilian protesters.

Doctors treating those injured in the attacks speak of catastrophic soft tissue injuries to the head, chest and abdomen of those shot by Gadafy’s troops. Significantly, Libyan doctors have been quoted as stating that the majority of the injuries are fatal or untreatable.

Libyan security forces are equipped with assault rifles such as Kalashnikov AK47s with standard 5.56mm and 7.62mm ammunition. Such ammunition, with a range of 600-800m is designed to wound or “drop” an enemy combatant on the battlefield. Multiple hits from a 7.62mm or 5.56mm round are usually required to kill a human target at standard ranges of several hundred metres.

The weapons being used against civilian protesters in Benghazi have included these standard assault rifles – described as “machine guns” in media reports – along with 12.7mm anti-aircraft fire. The use of 12.7mm heavy weapons against civilian protesters may well represent a war crime and would constitute a clear breach of the Geneva Conventions."

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