Plan B Forum

Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi has refused to stand down amid widespread anti-government protests which he said had tarnished the image of the country.

In his first major speech since unrest began last week, Col Gaddafi said the whole world looked up to Libya and that protests were "serving the devil".

Reading from the country's constitution, he said enemies of Libya would be executed.

Rights groups say nearly 300 have been killed in the violence so far.

A defiant and angry Col Gaddafi said that he had brought glory to Libya. As he had no official position from which to resign, he would remain the head of the revolution, he said.

He blamed the unrest on "cowards and traitors" who were seeking to portray Libya as a place of chaos and to "humiliate" Libyans. At other points he referred to the protesters as cockroaches or rats and mercenaries.

State TV had said Col Gaddafi was going to announce "major reforms" in his speech, but the only such reference was to some devolution of power to local authorities.

The protesters had been given drink and drugs, he said, frequently shouting and banging his fist on the table as the address continued.

Analysis
Frank Gardner Frank Gardner BBC security correspondent

Even by his own bizarre and eccentric standards, the latest speech by Col Gaddafi was breathtaking in its defiance of both the wider world and the reality now facing him.

Speaking from his favourite location, Tripoli's bombed-out Bab Al-Azizia Barracks, he referred to the protesters variously as "cockroaches" and "traitors" who were "drug-fuelled, drunken and duped".

At times, the Libyan leader seemed to lose control of his temper, shouting his words in Arabic. At others, he paused to adjust his matching khaki shawl and cap. His language, while undoubtedly aimed at shoring up what support he still has in the country, was one of quaint nationalist slogans from the 1960s and 70s.

To many of those opposing his rule, who use Twitter, Facebook and the internet, this was a speech from a bygone era from a man whose time they believe has long passed.

They represented less than 1% of Libya's population he said, urging people to arrest them and hand them over to the security forces.

He called on "those who love Muammar Gaddafi" to come on to the streets in support of him, telling them not to be afraid of the "gangs".

"Come out of your homes, attack them in their dens. Withdraw your children from the streets. They are drugging your children, they are making your children drunk and sending them to hell," he said.

He urged young people to form committees "for the defence of the revolution and the defence of Gaddafi". He said they would "cleanse Libya house by house".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12544624

Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi has told state TV that Osama Bin Laden and his followers are to blame for the protests racking his country.

In a phone call addressed to residents of the town of al-Zawiya, Col Gaddafi said young people were being duped with drugs and alcohol to take part in "destruction and sabotage".

BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – Government forces shot dead two protesters in the Libyan capital Tripoli on Friday, Al Jazeera television reported, as a popular uprising against Muammar Gaddafi closed in on his main power base.

Pro-Gaddafi forces opened fire after hundreds of people in the Janzour district in western Tripoli started a protest march after Friday prayers, a resident, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters in an email.

He said protesters were also shouting anti-Gaddafi slogans in Fashloum in the city's east, and another resident said security forces had fired into the air there.

Al Jazeera said two people had been killed and several wounded in heavy shooting in several districts.

Tripoli and the surrounding area, where Gaddafi's forces had managed to stifle earlier protests, appear to be his last main stronghold as the revolt that has put the east under rebel control has also reportedly advanced through the west.

liberty wrote:How would it strike you if Kaddafi is able to hold on to power due to his African mercenaries. And how do my liberal friends go about justifying that. That would be interesting, but would you even try.

Scooter wrote:

liberty wrote:How would it strike you if Kaddafi is able to hold on to power due to his African mercenaries. And how do my liberal friends go about justifying that. That would be interesting, but would you even try.

Timster wrote:Ok. I am not a "liberal" or your friend, and will spare the diatribe because I am working three jobs, but did you just quote David Ben Ariel?

WTF? I will come back to curse you proper later when time permits. Really?

Liberty: I wish that I had the capacity to see the world in black and white as you do...

Oh, wait, NO I DON'T!

Remaining "up right" must be very tiring indeed.

God speed and Get well soon.

liberty wrote:

Scooter wrote:Leave it to liberty to claim that black people are incapable of seeing the immorality of killing children.

Scooter wrote:I would try to help you out with the syntax of that sentence, but even with that summa cum laude associate's degree from the University of East Butt Crack you are beyond any form of help.