Hundreds of Libyan-Canadians converged on Parliament Hill Monday to march against the dictatorship of Moammar Gadhafi and his regime's brutal response to the anti-government protests that have been raging in that country for days.
Shouting "No more Gadhafi," the group of about 450 people was filled with horror stories caused by the regime.
One man had learned that his mother had been killed by government security forces. All were worried about their loved ones in the country.
"My husband's family is there," said Saphiah Aghliw through tears. "We haven't heard anything from there but people are dying by the hundreds."
Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon has condemned the Libyan government's "violent crackdown."
"I once again encourage them [the Libyan goverment security forces] to not use the use of force and to promote dialogue so, going forward, these people can be heard," Cannon said.
The demonstrations in Libya are part of a wider anti-government movement that has swept across the Middle East and North Africa over the past month.
Protestors in Libya have been met with a violent response from government security forces. There have been reports that tear gas and aerial bombardments have targeted protest sites, and that armed mercenaries are roaming the streets.
Over 230 protestors have been killed.
On Sunday, Gadhafi's son Saif al-Islam appeared on state television to warn the protestors that there would be "rivers of blood" in Libya if they continued to demonstrate.
Cannon said there are currently 400 to 500 Canadians in the country. He is advising against all non-essential travel to Libya.
Anyone looking for information on loved ones in Libya can call the Foreign Affairs' Emergency Operation Centre in Ottawa at 1-800-387-3124. The centre has already received about 150 calls, Cannon said.
Canadians in Libya can call the Canadian Embassy in Tripoli at 218-21-335-1633.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Joanne Schnurr
