The crowd outside the Libyan embassy in Balzan erupted into cheers and whistles yesterday afternoon, as the Libyan ambassador acceded to their request for the pre-Gaddafi flag to replace the green flag associated with the Gaddafi regime.

This is the second week that Libyan people living in Malta have been gathering outside the embassy, calling for the change in flags and the resignation of the ambassador, Saadun Suayeh.

Yesterday their request was met, when two men hoisted themselves up the façade of the embassy building at around 2pm, pulling down the green flag and replacing it with the pre-Gaddafi flag, which symbolises independence.

The protesters said that even though they could go up to the roof from inside the embassy, they chose to climb up the façade because they wanted the people to see them.

Ambassador Suayeh, who met three of the Libyan protesters inside the embassy earlier, said he had made this decision, as it was what the Libyan people as a whole wanted. He insisted that he is a peaceful man who does not want any violence, and agreed to the flag for the sake of peace, safety and respect.

“I accept any flag on which the Libyan people agree. I am concerned with safety and peace.”

The ambassador quoted the police commissioner as saying that the protests can be stopped if the embassy so wished.

Talking about the situation in Libya, the ambassador said he hoped that eventually the situation will be resolved in a peaceful manner. He confirmed that he will serve as ambassador until the crisis is over and then return to academia.

Meanwhile, protesters waved a flag of their own hoisted on a fishing rod, chanting: “No more waste of money… no more commissions. Freedom, law, justice. No more money to terrorists. One, two, three, four… Gaddafi no more. Out, out Gaddafi”.

The group included a few children who smiled as they made the “V” peace sign. Their mother admitted she took them out of school to see this event.

Protesters were jubilant and saying it was the greatest day of their lives, some were convinced that Gaddafi will soon “disappear”.

Osama Bin Zedlam and Ghssan Abuhasson said it is time to prepare for a new government, but admitted they are worried about friends and family in Libya whom they cannot get in touch with.

“The green flag never meant anything to us,” said protesters, “and never did us any good.”

The protesters then decided to go to the Libya Higher Vocational Institute for Instructors Training in Ta’ Giorni, where they also tried to have pre-Gaddafi flags raised, and also made a request to be granted permission to make use of a hall in the school to hold a meeting for Libyan people in Malta.

But the school refused, much to the anger of the protesters, some of whom had to be restrained by police officers.

“So far they have refused, so we must wait until the next time. We don’t know what is going to happen. The people are angry,” they said.

Hisham Shabush explained that the flag, to them, means education, justice, health, a better future and country, freedom and guaranteed rights.

One of the men said three-fourths of the people at the school were Gaddafi supporters and would be returning to Libya shortly, and someone even claimed a relative of the Libyan education minister was among those inside the school.

They said the director had told them he would willingly change the flag, but the students flat out refused.

Meanwhile, the flag at the mosque in Paola has already been changed.