Catholic church in Tripoli reports break-in as fighting rages

Nairobi, Kenya, August 23 (ENInews)--A Roman Catholic church in Tripoli,
the Libyan capital where heavy fighting is raging, has reported a break-in,
according to an Anglican Church leader who has responsibility over Libya,
Algeria and Tunisia.

"My priest had told me that one of the Catholic churches in Tripoli had
been broken into, but everyone is fine," said Bishop Bill Musk of the
Province of North Africa told ENInews in a telephone interview from Tunis, Tunisia
on 23 August. "It is impossible to reach Libya now [by telephone]. I have
been trying to reach the priest since yesterday, but the telephone network
is down," he added.

There are Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Anglican and some Pentecostal churches
in Libya, who have been supporting each another and have been in good
fellowship, according to Musk.

Attempts to reach Roman Catholic Bishop Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli of
Tripoli, who serves St. Francis Catholic Church in the city, were also
unsuccessful as his telephone went unanswered. 

Rebel fighters backed by the NATO alliance entered the city on 21 August,
with many predicting the end of dictator Moammar Gadhafi's 42-year rule.
NATO forces have been conducting airstrikes to implement a U.N.-sanctioned
no-fly zone and protect civilians. The action was approved by the U.N.
Security Council after Gadhafi's forces attacked civilians protesting his brutal
rule. 

Even with the sustained gunfire, Musk said he had not heard of the church
leaders wish to leave the country. "We asked have our priest to do what he
feels the Lord's telling him," said the leader. "Where violence has broken
out, it is dangerous for everyone."

Although there are no clear figures on the overall number of migrants
still in Tripoli and how many in want to be evacuated, the International
Organization for Migration says several thousands had registered for assistance
in recent days.

Many more, including sub-Saharan Africans who live on the outskirts of
Tripoli and who have not been able to reach embassies, might also require
assistance, the organization said in briefing notes send to reporters.

"We urgently call on all parties to allow IOM to carry out its
humanitarian work in safety and begin evacuating the many thousands of migrants who
want to leave Tripoli," said William Lacy Swing, the organization's director
general, on 23 August.

At the same time, news reports said three Franciscan friars are trapped in
a convent in Tripoli and cannot be reached because telephones have been
cut. The reports said there have shootings outside the convent. "No one dares
to walk in the street because people are shot on sight, even if it is not
clear who shoots who. Of course it is dangerous for civilians to leave the
house," Fides News Agency quoted a church source as saying over the phone
on 22 August.