“We are being accused in things we did not do”

RT

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Published: 9 March, 2011, 07:58

Gaddafi’s son talks about everything he thinks of the West and the opposition

Andrey Artemov Meanwhile, troops loyal to the dictator are trying to recapture the rebels’ initiative.
­­Another day of the civil war in Libya did not result in any changes. The troops, loyal to the leader of the Jamahiriya, Muammar Gaddafi, are controlling the capital of Tripoli and a number of districts in the west of the country. Those who oppose the Colonel’s regime have gained a foothold in the east of the country. The main battles took place today around the state’s largest oil loading port in the city of Mars-el-Bureik, which has recently been passed back and forth several times and in the end, fell under the control of the revolutionaries.
To change the course of the battle, on the day of March 3 Libyan Air Force units that continue being loyal to the regime had bombed the city. According to a number of Arab television reports, not only were the rebels’ positions bombed, but so were the oil facilities in the city subject to air strikes.
The state troops continue the offensive on other cities, occupied by the revolutionaries, as well. They are also subject to air strikes. It’s been reported that the rebels were able to bring one airplane down. Nevertheless, while using air cover, the “loyalists” continue moving forward. For now, their attacks are repelled by the rebels. According to them, dozens of peaceful civilians became victims of the strikes. The country’s authorities, however, deny this information.
In an interview with the French publication Le Point, Gaddafi’s son, Seif al-Islam, said that “allegations about us firing at peaceful civilians are incorrect. This is a monstrous lie.” In his opinion, Western journalists are reporting false allegations in regard to Libya. “We are being accused of crimes against humanity, of genocide. Apparently there is some type of an agenda for our country,” he suggested.
Seif al-Islam argues that his father’s opponents have control of no more than 8% of the country. They do not have any organizational force, he argues. The opposition, according to him, “absolutely does not control the region”.
While answering the reporter’s question about his view of the Western states, who have imposed sanctions against Libya, Gaddafi’s son said that the UN Security Council had adopted the resolution only due to the fact that Tripoli’s ambassador to the US has moved to the other camp.
Moreover, he chided the West for wanting to get unrestricted access to Libyan oil. “When we are strong, all is good, but as soon as we start growing weak, we are immediately beaten. Look at Tunisia and Egypt: they were on the side of the West, and suddenly, the West abandoned them. The same thing is happening in Libya. Moreover, we are also being accused in things we did not do,” complained Seif al-Islam.
Meanwhile, the West has yet to make a decision regarding a military campaign in Libya. For now, a powerful aircraft carrier group of the US Navy has been sent to its shores. NATO, however, cannot decide whether to strike Tripoli. In addition to major expenses and redeployment of additional forces from Afghanistan, Brussels and Washington are afraid of the potential consequences a bombing campaign may have, which will shake their credibility in the Islamic world even more. Moreover, the West is afraid of setting a dangerous precedent. After all, in the condition of the volatile processes which have swept over North Africa and the Middle East, such military measures may, perhaps, need to be implemented in regard to other states, as well. Due to this fact, NATO states continue to prefer to stay out of the conflict.
Meanwhile, the situation in Libya has created a humanitarian crisis, which has erupted at the country’s borders. Tens of thousands of people are trying to flee the state, which is being torn by a civil war. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, there are currently about 75,000 people in Tunisian refugee camps, and about 70,000 refugees on the Egyptian border.