Fall of a dictator: Mad dog Gaddafi flees as Libyan regime crumbles
by Martin Fricker, Daily Mirror
22/02/2011
WITH his hated regime crumbling around him, spineless Colonel Gaddafi sneaked off yesterday – but not before one last order:
"Send in the bombers."
As thousands demonstrated in Tripoli, there were claims he had boarded a private jet and fled to Venezuela. But before he vanished, the
vengeful dictator made one last terrifying bid to cling on to his 41-year rule – and punish the protesters who had toppled him.
He ordered his air force to BOMB unarmed civilians – with warplanes and gunships swooping on crowds. After losing control of huge swathes of the country, Gaddafi also unleashed an
army of foreign mercenaries – paid up to £20,000 a head – to gun down protesters from 4x4 vehicles.
In the early hours of this morning
he came out of hiding to make a bizarre statement, broadcast on state TV. Clutching a large brolly, he clambered out of a battered truck and said:
"I am in Tripoli and not Venezuela. So don't believe these dogs and these television channels."
Although the footage was said to be broadcast live from Gaddafi's home in Tripoli, the location could not be confirmed as journalists have been banned. The bullet-ridden location looked like the set of a disaster film.
Human rights groups said
up to 400 people have died since violence first erupted in Libya on Thursday. With journalists expelled from the country it was left to horrified locals to describe the appalling attacks.
Tripoli resident Adel Mohamed Saleh told Al Jazeera: "What we are witnessing today is unimaginable.
SEARCHING
"Warplanes and helicopters are indiscriminately bombing one area after another. There are many, many dead." Asked if the bombing was still going on he said: "Yes. Anyone who moves, even if they are in their car they will hit you."
In the second largest city of Benghazi, pro-democracy demonstrators seized power as government security forces were overwhelmed. With the east of the country out of government control, there are now fears Libya could descend into civil war.
One campaigner said: "It is the end game for Gaddafi – and he is reacting with death and destruction."
Earlier snipers shot dead protesters as the demonstrations spread to Tripoli for the first time. People were gunned down indiscriminately by security forces loyal to the
68-year-old leader.
Militiamen also opened fire on protesters from moving vehicles, leaving the city's Green Square littered with bodies. Medical sources in Tripoli said at least 60 had been killed. One witness said: "Vehicles turned up full of secret servicemen. They shot from the vehicles, killing anyone they could and running over others."
Another claimed
mercenaries were even murdering injured protesters as they arrived at the city's hospital.
By daybreak the square and surrounding streets were empty. Pro-Gaddafi security men looted banks and government buildings. Protesters set fire to police stations and the Hall of the People – Gaddafi's main symbol of power. One local said: "It's in flames. There is panic and chaos.
Government officials are running away, along with the military."
Medics in Benghazi said they were struggling to cope with the casualties. One doctor said: "It's mayhem. The government is operating a shoot-to-kill policy."
In Benghazi, protesters celebrated as
police disappeared from the streets.University professor Hanaa Elgallal said: "Youths with weapons are now in charge. There are no security forces anywhere."
Protester Salahuddin Abdullah added: "The city is completely under the control of the demonstrators." According to one medic,
the bodies of 13 officers were discovered inside the city's main security headquarters. Dr Ahmed Hassan said he believed they had been executed by fellow security forces for refusing to attack protesters.
As the violence escalated, David Cameron paid a surprise visit to Egypt at the start of a Middle East tour. He condemned the situation in Libya as "the most vicious form of repression".
EXCESSIVE
Foreign Secretary William Hague urged Britons to stay away and said emergency evacuation plans were being considered. He said he believed Gaddafi had fled to Venezuela, where he has previously stayed on Margarita Island.
Officials in South America denied the claim, but a source at Tripoli's Mitiga Airport said he saw three planes leaving early this morning, adding: "Gaddafi was on one."
Dozens of Brits arrived at Heathrow from Tripoli last night and told of their ordeal. Teacher Lisa Ali, 37, who fled with her two daughters, said: "The embassies weren't telling us anything. They should have started getting us out days ago.
"My husband's still there, but I can't get in touch with him. There were hundreds queuing to get a flight out." Holidaymakers Valerie and David Cook had already been scheduled to fly home last night after 12 days in Libya.
Valerie said: "We were in the old part of Tripoli, but in the early hours the shooting seemed to be getting closer." Another woman sobbed: "My husband's stuck there because we were told the flight was full – but it wasn't. I pray he's OK."
Despite the best efforts of the Libyan authorities to crush the protests, several senior government officials broke rank yesterday. Justice Minister Mustafa Mohamed Abud Al Jeleil resigned over "the excessive use of violence".
And the country's envoy to the Arab League, Abdel Moneim al-Honi, announced he was "joining the revolution". Protests broke out in the town of Ras Lanuf, the site of an oil refinery and petrochemical complex.
Police fled the city of Zawiyah after violent demonstrations. And nine towns in the east, including Zuara and Zlitan, were said to be under the control of tribal groups.
In Malta, two Libyan fighter jets landed unexpectedly at the country's international airport and their pilots asked for political asylum. It is believed they had refused to carry out Gaddafi's orders to bomb civilians.
Petrol giant BP has suspended operations in Libya and is preparing to evacuate staff. The turmoil saw oil prices soar by $1.67 to nearly $88 a barrel as investors panicked.
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UJUMBE HUMU:
Huu ndio uhalisia wa udikteta na unyama wa mmbwa aliouonyesha Mzee Muammar Gaddafi kabla ya kutoroka nchi kwenda mafichoni ambako hivi sasa anache michezo kama ya filamu hizi za kisasa za kujirekodi huko na kutuma kwenye TBC1 ya huko kutangazwa.
Kwa kweli mwisho wa huyu baba umekuja vibaya mno; (1) Jeshi limegawanyika vijipande vijipande huku asilimia kubwa ikiwaunga mkono wananchi, (2) maafisa wa ngazi za juu Usalama wa Taifa lao sasa warudiana wao kwa wao, (3) Mabalozi 9 wamejiuzulu na wengine kibao kubakia madarakani lakini wakiunga mkona wazi wazi wananchi kwa madai kwamba ndio waliowatuma kazi na wala si Gaddafi.
Kwa hasira askari mamluki waliokodishwa toka nchi za nje sasa wawaua wananchi wakiwa wamekalia nyuma ya mi-pick ups, huwakanyaga makusudi na magari, humpiga risasi mtu yeyote yule watakaomuona barabarani, huwamalizia kabisa majeruhi ambao wako taabani na kuwamiminia risasi madaktari wanaowatibu majeruhi.
Huyu ndiye Kanali Muammar Gaddafi, rafiki wa karibu wa baadhi ya viongozi wengi tu hapa ukanda wetu wa Afrika Mashariki!!! Mungu uwarehemu wote waliopoteza maisha na ummpe japo dakika moja Kanali Muammar Gaddafi akiri kwa mdomo wake mauaji haya ya kinyama kabla hajalamba kidole chake, chenye kinachodaiwa kuhifadhi tayari kwa lolote lile, sumu ya mamba na kukata roho.
Unyama huu Mungu hapendi![/SIZE][/COLOR][/LEFT]