By Aprille Muscara

WASHINGTON, Mar 3, 2011 (IPS) - As violent unrest continues unabated in Libya, with the potential to descend into what U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called a "protracted civil war" in statements to lawmakers here this week, international rights groups are raising the alarm over the resulting humanitarian crisis and the particularly desperate plight of stranded immigrant labourers.

"Thousands upon thousands of foreign workers remain stuck in Benghazi, after being forced from their factories and losing their possessions in last week's tumultuous events," said Human Rights Watch's emergencies director Peter Bouckaert, who is in the opposition-held city.

The United Nations estimates that between 600 and 2,000 peaceful protesters and innocent bystanders have been killed at the command of Muammar Gaddafi's regime since its brutal crackdown on anti-government demonstrations began over a fortnight ago. 

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