Libyan leader Moammer Gaddafi delivered a speech Thursday to Italian lawmakers, but he was prevented from speaking inside the Italian Senate chamber as planned after opposition leaders balked at giving the strongman such a rare honor. Instead, Gaddafi spoke to the lawmakers in a lower-profile palazzo next door, saying he was “honored” to appear before them. Gaddafi lashed out at the United States by likening the 1986 US strikes on Libya to Osama Bin Laden's terror attacks. He also urged the world to understand the reasons that motivate terrorists. Gaddafi said he condemned terrorism, Al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden but added “there are reasons behind ... terrorism and we must look at these reasons.” He asked sarcastically what the difference was between the US airstrikes on Tripoli and Benghazi two decades ago and Bin Laden's attacks. Gadhafi said he was being intentionally provocative and urged dialogue.
