Libyan Woman: Gadhafi's Thugs Raped Me

A Libyan woman crashed the Tripoli hotel housing western journalists today, reports the New York Times, fighting past guards to tell reporters a story of horrific sexual assault at the hands of pro-Gadhafi forces. Iman al-Obeidy, a native of Benghazi, says she was detained at a checkpoint, and imprisoned and raped by 15 men. “They say that we are all Libyans and we are one people,” she said, displaying bruises and deep scratches. “But look at what the Gadhafi men did to me.”

“They swore at me and they filmed me. I was alone. There was whiskey. I was tied up,” said al-Obeidy, pleading for friends who were still in custody. "They are still there, they are still there.” The Times says a "wild struggle" ensued as hotel staff and Gadhafi loyalists trying to remove al-Obeidy from the hotel fought journalists trying to interview her; a CNN camera was destroyed and two reporters beaten. “I am not scared of anything," said al-Obeidy as she was dragged off after an hour. "I will be locked up immediately after this.” "Her safety is of course guaranteed," said a government spokesman, who described al-Obeidy as drunk and mentally ill. (More Libya stories.)