It seemed as if all of Libya’s who’s who turned up to the celebration of the 61st anniversary of the 24th December Independence Day at the former King’s palace in Tripoli yesterday.
The guests were greeted by the Scouts brass band as they made their way into the palace along the red carpet.
The guest list was topped by GNC head Mohamed Magarief, Prime
Minister Ali Zeidan, Chief of Staff Mangush, NFA party head Mahmoud
Jibril, Justice and Construction party head Mohamed Sawan, Tripoli Local
Council head Sadat Badri, as well as business leaders and members of
the diplomatic corps.
In the opening speech Mohamed Magarief said ‘’thank god our people
returned their freedom, will and respect. We meet here today to
celebrate our freedom which we were denied from celebrating for 42
years’’.
Looking back on Libya’s ability to gain independence he recalled that
‘’what was described as the second poorest state in the world was still
able to create a state. We should honour those who achieved that’’.
Prime Minister Ali Zeidan said in his speech that ‘’today with the
people’s will, happiness and joy, we can celebrate how our predecessors
drafted the constitution and chose the current flag. We must today in
the King’s palace, which is part of our history, enjoy our freedom
thanks to the 17th February Revolution. A revolution by the
people and for the people and we must rebuild the Libyan state – a state
of law, institutions and organisation’’.
Meanwhile, outside the palace it seemed as if most of Tripoli was
either driving around the city waving flags and hooting their horns or
letting off fireworks and lanterns from Martyrs’ square.
The celebrations continued well into the night.
