Gaddafi vows “death or victory”

After rebels captured Libyan leader Gaddafi's residence in the capital Tripoli, he vowed to fight to the end against the "invaders", either winning or dying.

Pro-Gaddafi television station al-Urubah said Gaddafi had made a recorded speech saying his withdrawal from the compound was a “strategic move”.

Rebels are still celebrating their victory in Green Square. Rebel fighters were shown on television smashing a statue of the Libyan leader and kicking its head into the ground after taking over the Bab al-Aziziya compound on Tuesday. The fighters also seized all the property from Gaddafi's compound.

The BBC’s correspondent in Tropili says the Gaddafi era is effectively over and only a public declaration is needed. However, in a speech on Tropili television early this morning, Gaddafi vowed “death or victory” in the fight against Nato and the rebels. He also said his palace had been destroyed in 64 Nato strikes.

Al-Urubah TV also broadcast live an interview with government spokesman Musa Ibrahim, who said Libya could become “a volcano spewing lava and a sea of ​​fire at the feet of the invaders.”

Mr Musa added that Libya had about 6,000 volunteers who had gone to Libya to fight for Colonel Gaddafi. However, this claim has not been verified.

"It is not clear whether Colonel Gaddafi's family is still in Tropili. Some people believe that Gaddafi has fled the capital and gone south. But the important thing is not where he is, but when he will be captured," said Ahmed, a spokesman for the rebels.

It is not clear whether Mr Gaddafi and his family were at Bab al-Aziziya yesterday, but the compound is believed to be linked to key locations across the city by tunnels.

Members of the rebel National Transitional Council (NTC), which remains based in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, said they planned to fly to Tripoli today to begin work on forming a new government.

Rebel representatives are also planning high-level talks in Qatar today with the ambassadors of the United States, Britain, France, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates to discuss “post-Gadhafi” affairs.

The US State Department said the US will seek to release $1-1.5 billion in frozen Libyan accounts in the coming days and transfer the money to the NTC.

Rebels began their offensive on the capital Tripoli late last week and by Monday had seized several key areas.

The uprising against Colonel Gaddafi’s 41-year “empire” began in February. The rebels seized southern and some western provinces of Libya before advancing on the capital. NATO strikes targeted Gaddafi’s forces but had to ensure the safety of civilians (under UN directives).

(According to Tien Phong)