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| Africa North |
| Gaddafi says no surrender, protesters deserve death |
| 2011-02-24 |
| [Ennahar] Libyan leader Muammar Qadaffy said Tuesday he would not step down despite a nationwide revolt against his rule, vowing to die in Libya as a martyr and threatening tougher action against protesters. Facing the greatest challenge to his 41-year rule and losing control of parts of the country, a visibly angry Qadaffy called protesters "rats and mercenaries" who wanted to turn Libya into an Islamic state. "I am not going to leave this land. I will die here as a martyr ... I shall remain here defiant," Qadaffy said in a speech on state television. "Muammar Qadaffy is the leader of the revolution, I am not a president to step down ... This is my country. Muammar is not a president to leave his post, Muammar is leader of the revolution until the end of time." Qadaffy said in a rambling 75-minute address, apparently made in front of his residential compound which was bombed by U.S.U.S. warplanes in 1986, that under Libyan law the protesters deserved the death sentence. His adopted daughter died in the bombing. He said he would call the people to "cleanse Libya house by house" unless protesters on the streets surrendered. Pounding his fist on a podium, Qadaffy called on people to take to the streets Wednesday in a show of support for him. "From tomorrow, families collect your children, leave your homes, all of you who love Muammar Qadaffy, go out to the streets, secure the streets, don't be afraid of them. "Chase (the protesters), arrest them, hand them over to the security (forces). "They are only a few, they are terrorists. You are millions while they are only 100." Libyan forces have cracked down on demonstrators across the country since fighting erupted in Libya's oil-producing east last week in reaction to decades of repression and after uprisings that have toppled leaders in Tunisia and Egypt. The eastern region of Libya had broken free from Qadaffy, soldiers there said. But witnesses said tanks, warplanes and mercenaries were being used to fight the growing uprising in the capital Tripoli. "Peaceful protests is one thing, but armed rebellion is another," said Qadaffy. "We have not used force yet, but if we need to use force we will use it," he said. Qadaffy said the image of his country before the rest of the world was being distorted by foreigners. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #4 looking at Mo, I'd say the Samuel K. Doe BBQ route is out. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2011-02-24 20:51 |
| #3 Or a Ceaucescue. |
| Posted by: Aussie Mike 2011-02-24 20:43 |
| #2 Wife said something last night; does not like either Qadaffy or Obama, but when Qadaffy gets on TV and says something...she believes him. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2011-02-24 12:05 |
| #1 I sense another "Mussolini" finale coming here. Anyone have a rope? |
| Posted by: Canuckistan sniper 2011-02-24 11:39 |