Canada, February 28: Hundreds of Libyan-Canadian protesters have rallied in Toronto to express their solidarity with Libyan people as the revolution continues to rage in the African country.
With Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi still defiant in the face of massive public outcry over his 41-year-old reign, Libyan-Canadians, many worried about their families back home, staged rallies on Saturday, a Media correspondent reported.
The rally has been organized by the youth, who chanted slogans against Libyan regime for its bloody crackdown on protesters amid reports that the death toll from the revolution has risen to more than 2,000.
As the wave of protest moved to the US consulate in downtown Toronto, many warned against calling for foreign intervention in Libya, saying the move would serve as a prelude to US exploitation of oil riches in the country.
The demonstrators cautioned that Western forces might take the opportunity to gain a foothold in the Middle East as the revolution spreads into more states in the region.
People also rallied across several other cities in Canada, including Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver to call for the ouster of Gaddafi.
Libyan pro-democracy protesters have taken control of several western cities while they are trying to seize the capital city of Tripoli.
The Canadian government announced on Saturday that it will close its embassy in Libya after rescuing the last of the Canadians who are trying to flee the country.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he was seriously mulling over plans to impose sanctions against the Libyan leader and his regime.
Less than 200 Canadians remain in the country, with about 100 still trying to get out, and diplomatic presence has been suspended as Canadian officials are flown out of Libya.
——-Agencies