What happened to Gaddafi?

Posted by Kayla Phantom On Saturday, May 14th 2011 in Politics

An audio message from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has been broadcasted on Friday evening; the leader explains he is still alive and well, despite previous claims that he had been injured during one of the NATO airstrikes. The broadcast came shortly after the Libyan government has claimed that innocent people had been killed when NATO airplanes bombed the oil town Brega. The message was a minute long and in it Gaddafi accused the western countries of cowardice: "You could kill my body but could not kill my soul which lives in the hearts of millions," Gaddafi said.

He added that during an airstrike that took place on Thursday when the compound of Bab al-Aziziya that lies in Tripoli was bombed "three innocent journalist-civilians” were killed. The message was also sent as a response to Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini who mentioned that Gaddafi may have been injured and fled Tripoli, a fact denied by the Libyan government spokesman. Franco Frattini’s information came from the bishop of Tripoli who mentioned the likelihood that Gaddafi was injured. So far no one has any credible information on the leader’s whereabouts and health conditions. "International pressure has likely provoked the decision by Gaddafi to seek refuge in a safe place," guessed the foreign minister.

Libyan spokesmen denied all claims and said their only target was the weakening of the Libyan people’s spirit. Rumors that Gaddafi was dead or injured had started a week ago when his son Saif al-Arab Gaddafi and his three grandchildren had been killed in an airstrike. Since then Gaddafi appeared on a video footage on Wednesday in an attempt to dispel the rumors.