Today could mark an important chapter in the history of Libya, as demonstrations are planned to protest the rise of militias and Islamic terrorist groups.

It also appears that Islamists are planning to hold counter demonstrations in order to force people to choose sides.

Hussein el-Shafai said he doesn’t want to trade the tyranny of the Khadafi regime for the oppression of jihadists.

“We don’t need anyone from now on to rule us by guns,” he said.

He said Friday there will be marches all across Libya to send the message to the terrorist militias that they can join the civil society or they can leave.

“We are tired of this.  We don’t need militias to rule us anymore.”

El-Shafai, who met with Ambassador Stevens on two occasions, said it was these elements that launched the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi last week that killed Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.

He said he was half a mile away from the consulate when it was attacked.  He and a friend drove to the building and saw 15 to 20 people. He described them as al-Qaeda- or Taliban-type fighters.

“They were attacking as they were pointing their guns toward the embassy building,” he said.  “One of them was shouting and screaming to the security guy who was behind the main building - the main entrance – and he said, ‘Hey, shut the door! Idiot! Shut the door!’ And he starts shooting with a kalashnikov.”

He said another man climbed on top a large truck and shot a rocket-propelled grenade at the embassy.

“They start saying, ‘Yeah, yeah, we beat America!’”

El-Shafai said that’s when he and his friend drove away to escape the firefight.

He said there’s no doubt in his mind that the attackers were terrorists, not demonstrators. 

It's a view that others in the area share.

He also knows that he might be targeted for speaking to the media about what he saw, but if he does not his country will be lost to these same extremists.

“Someone has to stop those people,” he said.  “We have to take an action against them.”

He said the attack had nothing to do with the controversial YouTube video “Innocence of Muslims.”

“He’s an Ambassador,” el-Shafai added.  “How come you kill an Ambassador?”

El-Shafai was imprisoned for 12 years by the Khadafi regime. After he was released he came to America and went to school. When the revolution began last year, he went back to help the rebellion.

He urges Americans to support the moderates who are trying to create a free society.

He asked to deliver a message to Americans.

“As Libyans - millions like me - they are saying sorry to you guys about what happened against Chris Stevens,” he said.  “We are really sorry, and [send] our sorrows to their families, to the Americans’ families.”

Listen to the entire interview here.