Libyan's regular army and array of militias have been torturing loyalists of slain dictator Muammar Qadaffy...Custodian of Wheelus AFB for 42 long years until he was ejected from the gene pool by his indignant citizens...
, several of whom have been killed in jug, human rights
...which are usually open to widely divergent definitions...
groups charged on Thursday.
Their accusations come after a top U.N. official raised concerns that militias composed of former rebels who helped topple Qadaffy were posing an increasing security risk as they repeatedly clashed with each other.
"Several detainees have died after being subjected to torture in Libya in recent weeks and months amid widespread torture and ill-treatment of suspected pro-Qadaffy fighters and loyalists," London-based Amnesty said in a statement.
It said its delegates met detainees held in Tripoli, in Misrata and in smaller towns such as Ghariyan who showed visible signs of torture inflicted in recent days and weeks.
"The torture is being carried out by officially recognized military and security entities, as well by a multitude of armed militias operating outside any legal framework," it said.
Donatella Rouvera, senior adviser at Amnesty, said in the statement that it was "horrifying to find that there has been no progress to stop the use of torture".
"We are not aware of any proper investigations into cases of torture," she said.
Detainees told Amnesty they had been beaten for hours with whips, cables, plastic hoses, metal chains, bars, wooden sticks and given electric shocks with live wires.
The watchdog said the detainees, both Libyans and foreigners from sub-Saharan Africa, were tortured soon after they were seized by militias in officially recognized detention centers in places like Misrata.
Misrata withstood a devastating siege by Qadaffy's forces during last year's uprising. Its fighters later unleashed a fierce attack on the dictator's hometown of Sirte, where he was killed on October 20.
"Several detainees have died in the custody of armed militias in and around Tripoli and Misrata in circumstances that suggest torture," Amnesty added.