A group calling itself Friends against Western Forces in Libya has staged a demonstration in Accra to protest against the allied military action in Libya. The protesters say the western intervention was an attack on Islam and an attempt to colonise Libya. A coalition of predominantly western forces - mandated by a United Nations resolution 1973 to protect civilians in Libya - bombed forces loyal to Libyan Leader Col. Muamar Gaddafi and destroyed the country’s air force capabilities. Col. Gaddafi’s forces have been battling rebels based in the second largest city of Libya, Benghazi, who are trying to topple the Gaddafi regime. Western intervention helped the rebels to capture a number of towns which fell back to the government almost immediately. There appears to be a stalemate with none of the two sides able to progress. Demonstrators in Accra presented a petition to the French Ambassador in Ghana calling for the immediate cessation of western attacks on the country. (France spearheaded the formulation of the UN Resolution that paved the way for the imposition of a no-fly zone in Libya). Joy News’ Sammy Darko reported that majority of the demonstrators were elderly Muslim men and women as well as children who carried placards and shouting ‘death to the West.’ A leading member of the group, Alhaji Rahman presented the petition to the French Ambassador in Accra. Receiving the petition, the French Ambassador said the action of the international forces had been endorsed by the UN and the Arab League. He said the action was meant to protect civilians. Story by Malik Abass Daabu with additional files from Joy News/Ghana