Libyans indifferent to Gaddafi speech
- 13 years ago
Defiant words from Libya's deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi.
In a phone call aired live by a Syrian television channel, Libya's ousted strongman encouraged his supporters to rise up and fight.
He also blamed what he said were "mercenaries" and "dogs" for the country's uprising, and said they've been working with NATO to kill the children of Libya.
But in the capital Tripoli residents respond with indifference, saying that at this point it doesn't matter since Gaddafi will never be back.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ANTI-GADDAFI FIGHTER, EMAD AL SHWEIHI, SAYING:
"The Libyan people no longer listen to Gaddafi. The Gaddafi era is over. We've started a new history in Libya. He ruled us for 42 years and now we are in the process of rebuilding our future".
An anti-Gaddafi military leader agrees -- as far as he's concerned, Gaddafi is done.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) COMMANDER OF HAMZA JALAL BRIGADE, COLONEL SULEIMAN AL-JARM, SAYING:
"He is calling for a fight via recorded speeches. He will not fight and he is not a fighter. He is a war criminal. His speeches are recorded. Where is he now? We do not see him on television
screens. He speaks on the radio. He will not surface".
Outside Bani Walid -- one of the last remaining pro-Gaddafi strongholds -- NTC fighters feel the same way.
Having advanced to within 15 kilometers of the tribal bastion, these soldiers say they've heard enough from Gaddafi.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HASHIM, ANTI-GADDAFI FIGHTER, SAYING:
"He always describes us as rats and encourages his supporters to fight but it is just talk. He is always talking, meanwhile we are in Bani Walid. We've had enough!"
The former leader's whereabouts have been a mystery since anti-Gaddafi fighters stormed his Tripoli headquarters two weeks ago.
One of several towns still in the hands of Gaddafi's followers, Bani Walid has refused to surrender despite a standoff that has dragged on for days.
Travis Brecher, Reuters
In a phone call aired live by a Syrian television channel, Libya's ousted strongman encouraged his supporters to rise up and fight.
He also blamed what he said were "mercenaries" and "dogs" for the country's uprising, and said they've been working with NATO to kill the children of Libya.
But in the capital Tripoli residents respond with indifference, saying that at this point it doesn't matter since Gaddafi will never be back.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ANTI-GADDAFI FIGHTER, EMAD AL SHWEIHI, SAYING:
"The Libyan people no longer listen to Gaddafi. The Gaddafi era is over. We've started a new history in Libya. He ruled us for 42 years and now we are in the process of rebuilding our future".
An anti-Gaddafi military leader agrees -- as far as he's concerned, Gaddafi is done.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) COMMANDER OF HAMZA JALAL BRIGADE, COLONEL SULEIMAN AL-JARM, SAYING:
"He is calling for a fight via recorded speeches. He will not fight and he is not a fighter. He is a war criminal. His speeches are recorded. Where is he now? We do not see him on television
screens. He speaks on the radio. He will not surface".
Outside Bani Walid -- one of the last remaining pro-Gaddafi strongholds -- NTC fighters feel the same way.
Having advanced to within 15 kilometers of the tribal bastion, these soldiers say they've heard enough from Gaddafi.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HASHIM, ANTI-GADDAFI FIGHTER, SAYING:
"He always describes us as rats and encourages his supporters to fight but it is just talk. He is always talking, meanwhile we are in Bani Walid. We've had enough!"
The former leader's whereabouts have been a mystery since anti-Gaddafi fighters stormed his Tripoli headquarters two weeks ago.
One of several towns still in the hands of Gaddafi's followers, Bani Walid has refused to surrender despite a standoff that has dragged on for days.
Travis Brecher, Reuters