Ill die here as a martyr: defiant Gadhafi

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has insisted he will fight to the 'last drop of blood' in a defiant speech that follows days of bloodshed on the streets of his country.

Celebratory gunshots in celebration were heard after Gaddafi's speech, aired on state TV and on a screen to several hundred supporters in Tripoli's central Green Square.

It suggests more bloodshed lies ahead after pro-regime gunmen and mercenaries left bodies littering the streets of the capital, after they went on the rampage, shooting on sight anyone found in the streets and opening fire from speeding vehicles.

The head of state had launched a brutal crackdown as his 41-year reign came under threat as thousands of Libyans took to the streets to call for change.

“I am a fighter, a revolutionary from tents ... I will die as a martyr at the end,” he said, vowing to fight 'to my last drop of blood.'

He called on supporters to take to the streets and attack protesters, who he described as misguided youths and 'drug addicts' fomented by Islamic fundamentalists.

He said: “You men and women who love Gaddafi ... get out of your homes and fill the streets. Leave your homes and attack them in their lairs.

“The police cordons will be lifted, go out and fight them. Forward, forward, forward!”

A day after a bizarre appearance in which he apparently sat in the front of a van and insisted he was in the Libyan capital - despite reports he had fled - Gaddafi addressed a crowd in Green Square.

After widespread international criticism of Gaddafi's violent response to the protests and the resignations of several of the country's ambassadors, the 68-year-old leader delivered a rambling speech.

He claimed his own home had been bombed by 'superpowers' and said 'rats' had been paid to disfigure the reputation of Libya.

He said: “I am not going to leave this land' and added he would not 'give up' like other leaders, in an apparent reference to the deposed Tunisian and Egyptian presidents.

He added: “A small group of young people who have taken drugs have attacked police stations like mice... They have taken advantage of this peace and stability.

“However it is not their fault, these young people; they tried to imitate what happened in Tunisia ... However there is a small group of sick people that has infiltrated in cities that are circulating drugs and money.”

Gaddafi's speech made frequent reference to Libya's history, with talk of wars against France, Egypt, the UK and the U.S.

The furious tirade also warned armed demonstrators, those “who spy for other countries” and “anyone who undermines the constitution” would face death: “I am a fighter, a revolutionary from tents ... I will die as a martyr at the end.

“I have not yet ordered the use of force, not yet ordered one bullet to be fired ... when I do, everything will burn.”

It had been reported that he may devolve power but his speech never looked likely to lead to a resignation.

He added he was not a president so could not step down and said he planned to fight 'until the last drop' with the Libyan people behind him.

He referred to those who “love Muammar Gaddafi” and urged supporters to take to the streets without fear of 'gangs.'

He added: “If matters require, we will use force, according to international law and the Libyan constitution.”

As the fighting intensified, cracks appeared among Gaddafi supporters, with some ambassadors resigning and calling for his removal.

Ali Aujali, the Libyan ambassador to the U.S. today said he was resigning 'from serving the current dictatorship regime.'

“But I will never resign from serving our people until their voices reach the whole world, until their goals are achieved,” he said on

ABC television's Good Morning America. 'I am calling for him to go and leave our people alone.'

But amid reports that he had fled to Venezuela, Gaddafi appeared on state TV earlier to insist: “I am in Tripoli and not in Venezuela. Do not believe the channels belonging to stray dogs.

“I wanted to say something to the youths at the Green Square (in Tripoli) and stay up late with them but it started raining. Thank God, it's a good thing.”

He gave the brief statement in a bizarre 22-second TV interview while holding an umbrella and sitting in the front seat of a van.(In courtesy of Daily Mail)

카다피, 퇴진 거부.."순교자로 죽을 것

리비아의 국가원수 무아마르 카다피는 22일 권좌에서 물러나라는 시위대의 요구를 정면으로 거부하고 자신은 시위대와 싸우다가 `순교자'로서 죽을 것이라고 밝혔다.

카다피는 이날 국영TV로 생중계된 연설에서 "무아마르 카다피는 혁명의 지도자이고, 무아마르 카다피는 공식적인 자리를 가지고 있지 않아서 물러날 수도 없다. 무아마르 카다피는 영원한 혁명의 지도자"라고 소리친 뒤 "이곳은 내 조국, 바로 내 조국이고, 나는 내 조상의 땅에서 `순교자'로 죽을 것"이라고 강조했다.

갈색으로 된 긴 옷차림에 터번을 쓴 카다피는 1980년대 미국의 폭격으로 파손된 트리폴리 관저의 한 건물 앞에 서서 비장한 모습으로 원고 없이 연설을 하며 수시로 주먹을 불끈 쥐거나 연단을 내려쳤고, "나의 마지막 피 한 방울이 남을 때까지 싸울 것"이라며 시위대에 대한 강경 진압의 의지를 노골적으로 드러냈다.

카다피는 또 자신의 지지자들에게 시위대로부터 거리를 되찾으라고 호소하는가 하면, 시위대를 쥐에 비유하며 "쥐들을 잡으라"고 촉구했다.

카다피의 이 같은 선전포고에 앞서, 친정부 세력은 수도 트리폴리 등지에서 반정부 시위대에 대한 `피의 작전'을 이어갔다.

트리폴리의 목격자들은 지난 밤 전투기가 시내 곳곳을 폭격하고 군용 헬리콥터도 비행을 하며 시가지를 향해 발포해 시위대를 두려움에 떨게 했다고 전했다.

일부 용병이 포함된 친정부 민병대원들은 거리에서 시위대를 향해 발포했고, 차량에 설치한 확성기로 주민들에게 집 밖에 나오지 말라고 경고하며 돌아다녔다고 목격자들은 덧붙였다.

이와 관련, 국제인권단체인 `휴먼 라이츠 워치'(HRW)는 지난 20일부터 지금까지 트리폴리에서 시위대와 보안군 간의 충돌로 최소 62명이 숨졌다고 밝혔다.

하지만, 독일 dpa 통신은 목격자들의 말을 인용, 트리폴리에서 희생된 사람 수가 150명에 이를 것으로 추산되며, 이번 반정부 시위의 중심 도시인 벵가지에서는 300명 이상이 목숨을 잃었다고 보도했다.