TRIPOLI: Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi Tuesday ordered his forces to crush an uprising that has rocked his 41-year rule, warning armed protesters they will be executed and vowing to fight to his last. In a defiant, sometimes rambling speech on television, Gaddafi vowed to remain in Libya as head of its revolution, saying he would die as a martyr in the land of his ancestors and fight to the “last drop” of his blood. Proclaiming the support of the people, Gaddafi ordered the army and police to crush the uprising against his four-decade rule that has already left hundreds dead in the past eight days. Ordering protesters to surrender their weapons immediately, saying there would be a “slaughter” otherwise, he threatened to purge Libya “house by house” and “inch by inch.” “Muammar Gaddafi is the leader of a revolution; Muammar Gaddafi has no official position in order for him to resign. He is the leader of the revolution forever.” “This is my country, my country,” he shouted, in a roughly 75-minute speech consisting of short, angry bursts of words, which he punctuated by shaking his fist or pointing his finger. Despite widespread reports that army, police and militias had killed unarmed demonstrators indiscriminately in the past week, Gaddafi said “we have not yet used force.” Despite his show of defiance, Gaddafi's grip appeared increasingly shaky as ambassadors quit and fighter pilots defected, flying to Malta where they said they had refused to follow orders to fire on protesters. Scary speech: Merkel German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, “Gaddafi's speech today was very scary as he has declared war on his own people,” while warning Berlin would consider sanctions unless he halted the crackdown. The Arab League said it has barred Tripoli from attending its meetings “until the Libyan authorities respond to demands, guaranteeing the security and stability of its people.” Gaddafi's sense of isolation was being underlined at a meeting of the UN Security Council meeting, called after Libyan diplomats who have broken ranks from him called for a UN no-fly zone over the country and humanitarian action. Ibrahim Dabbashi, the Libyan deputy ambassador who has called for Gaddafi to stand down and sent the letter demanding Tuesday's meeting, said “we are expecting something to protect the Libyan people” to be decided by the council. Although government restrictions have complicated the task of compiling a tally, Human Rights Watch said 233 had been killed in the uprising while the International Federation for Human Rights put the toll at between 300 and 400. Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the authorities should immediately stop using violence, adding that “widespread and systematic attacks against the civilian population may amount to crimes against humanity”. – Agence France
