REBELS in Libya today announced a �1MILLION bounty has been offered to anyone who can capture "Mad Dog" Colonel Gaddafi. The nation's rebel council also said it was offering amnesty to any of Gaddafi's cronies if they caught or KILLED the fugitive dictator.
Council chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil said: "The National Transitional Council announces that any of his inner circle who kill Gaddafi or capture him, society will give amnesty or pardon for any crime he has committed."
A Libyan businessman is believed to have offered the $1.6million bounty. Last night the dictator vowed his fight against Libya's rebels would end in "death or victory".
In a bid to destabilise the liberation fighters who stormed his compound he also insisted the withdrawal of his troops from Tripoli was "tactical". And pro-Gaddafi fighters hit back today firing at rebels inside the former leader's sprawling government complex.
Martyrs
Gaddafi � whose whereabouts remain a mystery � reportedly said: "We are resisting with all our strength. We will either win or become martyrs, God willing."
He said in an audio broadcast on Kuwaiti TV: "All Libyans must be present in Tripoli, young men, tribal men and women must sweep through Tripoli and comb it for traitors." A woman, claiming to be Gaddafi's daughter, today urged Libyans to unite against Nato and foreign interference.
She told loyalist television channel Al Orouba: "I tell the Libyan people to stand hand-in-hand against Nato. "I tell the Libyan people not to fear the armed forces. The leader is right."
The tyrant only has one daughter, Aisha.
As the fighting continued today, British journalists were among dozens of foreigners held in a Tripoli hotel by pro-Gaddafi gunmen.
The situation was described as "desperate" by one BBC correspondent who said armed men were roaming the corridors, stopping them from leaving.
Reporters claimed they were being held hostage in the Rixos hotel, where food and supplies were running short. The BBC's Matthew Price said: "It's a desperate situation for about 35 foreign nationals here, Brits, Americans. There's a US congressman here, there's an Indian parliamentarian here.
"The situation deteriorated massively overnight when it became clear that we were unable to leave the hotel of our own free will.
"Gunmen were roaming around the corridors. We believe there are still snipers on the roof of the hotel and effectively our movements are curtailed."
He added: "There is a huge amount of apprehension and nervousness amongst the journalists stuck here in the hotel." They were later released after gunmen who had been guarding the 35-strong group reportedly surrendered their weapons and left.
Dozens of journalists were taken in Red Cross cars and vans to another hotel in the capital, where they were seen hugging friends and colleagues, many crying.
Matthew Chance, a correspondent for news channel CNN, said: "Everybody's okay, there are no injuries, but perhaps some emotional scars.
"I can't tell you how pleased we all are and how relieved our families will be. It's been an absolute nightmare for all of us. Emotions are running very high."
Foreign Secretary William Hague has called on Gaddafi to recognise his 42-year rule over Libya was over and stand down his forces.
Mr Hague insisted the Libyan people had delivered a "decisive rejection" of the dictator and dismissed his vow to fight on as "delusional".
He said: "I think it is time now for Colonel Gaddafi to stop issuing delusional statements."
Mr Hague said it was "ironic" that Gaddafi had described leaving his compound as a "tactical move". He added: "I think it was rather more than a tactical move but we don't know where he is at the moment."
Rebels overran Gaddafi's sprawling Bab al-Aziziyah complex yesterday � blasting bullets into the air, cheering and raising their own "Free Libya" flag on top of it.
They also ripped the head off a bronze statue of the tyrant. They delighted in kicking it through the dust while firing guns � then standing on it.
Gaddafi's forces had tried to defend the fortress � a vast walled compound that served as the 69-year-old tyrant's military HQ and his official State home. But Nato jets softened up the target with a series of attacks.
And the fierce resistance put up by Gaddafi's troops simply melted away in the face of a fearless assault. The rebels were soon inside his home.
Some clambered on to Gaddafi's favourite statue � a US jet being crushed by a fist.
Gaddafi built it as a show of defiance following a US assault on the complex in the 1980s. One rebel even went to the Mad Dog's bedroom and came out wearing Gaddafi's gaudy military cap and a gold chain.
The fighter � named simply as Mr al-Windi � had been battling Gaddafi's forces for four months throughout Libya.
He said: "I just went inside his bedroom, I was like, 'Oh my God, I'm in Gaddafi's home'. I found his hat. "I'm going to give this to my dad as a present. He has suffered a lot from Gaddafi and Gaddafi's followers. I'm happy now, I'm happy for Libya."
Source: thesun.co.uk
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |