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Gadhafi loyalists fire rockets as rebels await order to attack
Source: Agencies |
September 9, 2011, Friday
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MOAMMAR Gadhafi's loyalists fired at least 10 rockets from inside one of his last strongholds yesterday, hours after the ousted Libyan leader urged his fighters to crush opponents he described as germs and rats.
Former rebels have massed outside the desert town of Bani Walid for days waiting for orders to take the town, but the rocket fire marked an escalation in the standoff, which could reach a climax when a deadline for surrender negotiations runs out this weekend.
Though they overran the capital last month, drove Gadhafi into hiding and have a leadership council that is the closest thing to a Libyan government, the fighters cannot claim victory until the remaining handful of loyalist strongholds are under their control.
From an unknown location, Gadhafi denied rumors he had fled Libya, vowed never to leave the land of his ancestors and exhorted followers to keep fighting. The message was broadcast on a pro-Gadhafi satellite TV channel based in Syria.
Gadhafi has not been seen in public for months. Finding him would help seal the new rulers' hold on the country and probably trigger the collapse of the regime's remaining loyalists.
In yesterday's five-minute audio message, aired on Al-Rai TV, a man who sounded like Gadhafi denounced reports that he had fled to neighboring Niger and claimed he was still in Libya. He called those who ousted him "a bunch of mercenaries, thugs and traitors."
He went on: "We are ready to start the fight in Tripoli and everywhere else, and rise up against them. All of these germs, rats … they are not Libyans, ask anyone. They have cooperated with NATO."
Niger officials have said senior members of Gadhafi's regime led by his own security chief crossed from Libya on Tuesday. Niger said the group of 13 people did not include Gadhafi, and US officials have said they have no reason to believe Gadhafi is not in Libya.
But reports of the apparent defection of some of his top aides, and rumors it involved a large number of senior soldiers who left with money and gold, were believed to have undermined morale among Gadhafi loyalists.
Gadhafi tried to counter what he called a propaganda war, telling followers in the message broadcast yesterday: "They are trying to demoralize you. Gadhafi will not leave the land of his ancestors."
The authenticity of the recording could not be verified but the voice and style strongly resembled those of Gadhafi.
Libya's interim health minister, Naji Barakat, said on Wednesday that at least 30,000 people were killed and 50,000 wounded in the war. The figures, though incomplete, were based on body counts from some areas and estimates from others, Barakat said.
Former rebels have massed outside the desert town of Bani Walid for days waiting for orders to take the town, but the rocket fire marked an escalation in the standoff, which could reach a climax when a deadline for surrender negotiations runs out this weekend.
Though they overran the capital last month, drove Gadhafi into hiding and have a leadership council that is the closest thing to a Libyan government, the fighters cannot claim victory until the remaining handful of loyalist strongholds are under their control.
From an unknown location, Gadhafi denied rumors he had fled Libya, vowed never to leave the land of his ancestors and exhorted followers to keep fighting. The message was broadcast on a pro-Gadhafi satellite TV channel based in Syria.
Gadhafi has not been seen in public for months. Finding him would help seal the new rulers' hold on the country and probably trigger the collapse of the regime's remaining loyalists.
In yesterday's five-minute audio message, aired on Al-Rai TV, a man who sounded like Gadhafi denounced reports that he had fled to neighboring Niger and claimed he was still in Libya. He called those who ousted him "a bunch of mercenaries, thugs and traitors."
He went on: "We are ready to start the fight in Tripoli and everywhere else, and rise up against them. All of these germs, rats … they are not Libyans, ask anyone. They have cooperated with NATO."
Niger officials have said senior members of Gadhafi's regime led by his own security chief crossed from Libya on Tuesday. Niger said the group of 13 people did not include Gadhafi, and US officials have said they have no reason to believe Gadhafi is not in Libya.
But reports of the apparent defection of some of his top aides, and rumors it involved a large number of senior soldiers who left with money and gold, were believed to have undermined morale among Gadhafi loyalists.
Gadhafi tried to counter what he called a propaganda war, telling followers in the message broadcast yesterday: "They are trying to demoralize you. Gadhafi will not leave the land of his ancestors."
The authenticity of the recording could not be verified but the voice and style strongly resembled those of Gadhafi.
Libya's interim health minister, Naji Barakat, said on Wednesday that at least 30,000 people were killed and 50,000 wounded in the war. The figures, though incomplete, were based on body counts from some areas and estimates from others, Barakat said.
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