Gaddafi: 'I will not give up', 'we will chase the cockroaches'
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in a long, fighting and disjointed speech on state television this afternoon promised that he would not give up, as other leaders had done.
He said that 'cowards' were trying to distort the truth and giving a wrong picture of what was happening in Libya. Libyans, he said, were being shown as being 'bad people'.
The Libyan people, he said, should hold their heads high against the leaders of the world who were conspiring against them and wanted to tarnish the reputation of the people and the country.
Gaddafi said he would not give up and would resist to the end of his life because this was his country, watered by the Libyan people's blood.
The Libyan people, he said, would defy the tyranny of the United States and other countries.
"I am a warrior" Col Gaddafi said. He was fighting to give dignity to the country against a bunch of rats who were paid to disfigure the country.
"I am not going to leave this land, and I will die here as a martyr'.
The enemies, he said, knew that Col Gaddafi was not an ordinary person. His house had been bombed, his children had been killed. And the rats were with the United States.
But the Libyan people would not give up, Africa would not give up. Libya had defeated the colonialist Italy, the US and Britain, and would remain defiant.
Col Gaddafi said innocent people had been attacked in their homes and the streets by youths who had been manipulated. Such crimes, he said, would be investigated and the people would be defended.
This, he said, was a small, paid group used by others who stayed at home.
Col Gaddafi recalled how he, as the head of the revolution, had liberated Benghazi and Tobruk, ousting the American and British bases. The current generation should remember the high price which their fathers had paid for Libyan liberation, and their honour would not be tarnished.
The administration of the country, Col Gaddafi said, was in the hands of the people through their committees and congresses. He was calling on the people to administer the oil resources of the country through new municipal committees.
Referring to Benghazi (which is in protesters' hands), Col Gaddafi said he was calling on the people to liberate and purify that part of Libya and let it be run by its own people, not others. The young people in Benghazi should know that they had been duped and did not know what they were doing.
Tripoli, he said, was free and should be administered by its people.
The masses, he said, should take to the streets and form new committees and municipalities for local administration.
Those who sided with Gaddafi and the revolution should secure the streets and remember the evacuation of the Americans and the return of oil assets to the Libyan people, he added.
Force, he said, woudl be used according to Libyan and international law.
Col Gaddafi said that since he was not president, since he had no position, he would not resign. But he had his gun and he would fight for Libya.
The people should not let their young get drunk and be misled, he said. The gangs, like cockroaches, did not represent anyone, they were nothing, just a handful trying to imitate what had happened in Egypt and Tunisia after being drugged.
From tomorrow, he said, the police and the army would impose security. If these cockroaches were allowed to prevail, Libya would slide into darkness and lose its oil.
He had rebuilt Benghazi but they had destroyed it. They had also destroyed its airport. Other cities such as Derna had also been attacked.
But they had to be repulsed and the US should not be allowed to occupy Libya like Afghanistan. The enemy had to be chased and the terrorists had to be hanged. Anybody who took arms against Libya would be executed. Those who waged war against Libya would be put to death. Those who facilitated entry of the enemy into Libya or handed over Libyan cities would be executed.
Reading from a law book, Gaddafi said that all those who used force against the people would be punished by death. The same applied for those who took part in or instigated civil war,
Col Gaddafi said he had not ordered anyone to start firing yet, because had he done so, everything would be set ablaze and Libya would end up like Somalia.
He said the millions of Libyans should restore order, take back their oil assets and do what they liked with it.
Rebellion in Waco in the US , the coup in the Soviet Union and in Tiananmen Square had been repulsed with tanks because unity was more important, he said. Libya would also do whatever it takes not to allow part of the country (Benghazi and Derna) to be taken away.
After a number of long pauses, during which he read from sheets of paper, Col Gaddafi called on opponents to give up their weapons, their drugs and their ring leaders, and said that shops should reopen as normal.
It was unacceptable, he said, for the country to be torn apart or handed to the crazy people who did not know their history.
The speech, which lasted for more than an hour, ended at 6.06 p.m. At its end Col Gaddafi was hugged by an army officer.
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gaffarena joseph
Feb 24th 2011, 17:50
COLONEL SOON THE COCKROACHES WILL BE ALLOVER YOUR BODY.
Neville debattista
Feb 24th 2011, 16:24
Time will catch up with each and everybody I hear them say. You must have realized by now I guess ( unless you intend to bury your hand in the sand) that your days are numbered. At this point in time after the events which have recently unfolded if I were you I would choose the easiest way out. That is pack up, say sorry to all the fellowcountrymen which you may have hurt and sneak out gently and quitely from your office. Giving battle will not help your cause. Giving up will give you instead a chance to save you skin. Given that you would insist to wage war ( this is very probable since you are a very stubborn person ) it could be possible that you will hang on to your seat for another week or two, a month maybe plus a couple of days. You would have earned nothing at all by that. It will only make matters worst. Your time is up. That is for sure.
N. Borg
Feb 24th 2011, 14:44
Bellum omnium contra omnes!!!! As Hobbes said without civil society, its nothing but a war of all against all. At this stage, there is no civil society in Libya, hence its a war of everyone against everyone. In simple terms there is no Justification of State under the Colonel! Its time for a new Government, who will "hug" what Thomas Jefferson said "The best principles is to secure to all its citizens a perfect equality of rights."
Alex Ellul
Feb 24th 2011, 10:45
Seems the "cockroaches" have taken over most of the Libyan cities, except Tripoli were the dogs of war have been unleashed on the population (what mad-dog gaddafi refers to as cockroaches) killing the population like we squash cockraoches during a Maltese heatwave.
Gaddafi IS treating his own people like cockroaches, but in fact he is the cockroach and shouild be squashed urgently.
Victor Vella
Feb 24th 2011, 09:06
It is better for Collonel Gaddafi to call the executive and hear the people`s aches instead of let his hard emotions getting to hs head and throwing insults to the people. In doing such things he is throwing more fuel to the fire that is already engulfing his country that he loved so much. It was Gaddafi who pulled his people from misery and hardships. It ias time for Mr Gaddafi to realise to give power tro the people by engaging democaratic means. Technology and globalisation have changed the world and nobody can isolate himself/herself from the rest of the world. Blogs, twitter, facebooks and linkedin are everyday revolutions that do not match the green revolution. Nobody is cockroaches, dog or a rat. In today`s show of force everybody is a looser. In the name of ALLAH, that is the same God that me and you believe in, soften the heart and mind, and find solutions with peaceful means because you ( Gaddafi) do not deserve to end your life and that of your people in nothing. We, the Maltese nation, are interested that this black episode ends up in a peaceful way.
John B. Vincenti
Feb 23rd 2011, 13:29
One just hopes and prays that the UN does not wait until it's too late to intervene. We do not need another Iraq, Cambodia, Rwanda, Somalia etc, before we have to read of the hundreds /thousands/ Millions who have perished in their plight for their freedom in Libya.
All democratic societies are morally oblidge to defend the persecuted and weak.
Russia, China, USA, Japan, Europe, Austalia, South America it's time to stand up and be counted. Do not stand by and allow any more blood to be spilled.
angela sultana
Feb 23rd 2011, 18:44
How about sending off Mintoff to sort him out. I recall him saying we were blood brothers and he was very chummy with Gaddafi
Mark Caruana
Feb 23rd 2011, 12:20
I don't think we will be worse withoit Gaddafi. The excuse that if he reamins there stability is guaranteed is just the crap he gives to his people so he can rule his tyranny. If Libya will be deomcratic Republic we have a lot to gain and our businessmen will have more opportuniuties. Libya is a closed country where foreigners are seen as aliens and this was purposely doctrined in the Libyan people4 so he can rule without any hindering. I just hope that with this brutality we will not end up with thousands seeking refuge on our shores. We simply can't afford that and if that happens I fear we will never be the same again.
Chris Ciantar
Feb 23rd 2011, 11:11
COMTEC LIBYA...OPENING SOON TO A COCKROACH NEAR YOU !
N.S Tanti
Feb 23rd 2011, 09:15
There is some truth in what some people are saying here. My question is, Tunisia is now "free" from its dictator, than why all the people are leaving the country, flooding Europe? Haven't they got what they wanted now??? Why are they leaving when instead they should be building what they fought for so much???? It's something I cannot understand. They are free now but yet they are escaping.
If this will happen to libya too in case Gaddafi steps down, then I would say that things were better during his dictatorship. Don't see up to your nose, look further. If Libya is taken by some extremist group after Gaddafi there will be no more jobs, no more coast guard and whatever has been signed with EU to help us against illegal immigration will go to hell. As I said, it's one thing helping but not at our loss. EU knows only about talking, how about each EU country sending a vessel to protect Malta and Italy against any possible attacks and illegal immigration. Enough of meetings and coffee breaks please!
r ferriggi
Feb 23rd 2011, 08:22
to gordon grech
you have got it all totally wrong.
have you been yourself to Libya ( not LYBIA) ??
have to befriended the people on the streets... spoken to security secret police??
do you relaise that Gaddafi's reime was arguably the worst of them all?
do you relaise that he has denuded the Libyan people from all their pride??
do you relaise he kept them ''ignorant'' for his own aims?
before you eulogise mass murderers,... do your homework well please.
the time of blind ideologies are over.
Maria Fenech
Feb 24th 2011, 18:00
to r ferriggi
before correcting the wrongly spelled libya, I would suggest correcting your relaise since it is actually realize
Gordon Grech
Feb 22nd 2011, 21:34
There is a bit of difference between Mubarak and Gaddafi! Gaddafi is a man of honor and only antropologists can better explain my comment. During his speach, there were thousands of people hearing his speach and angy with all those who are doing all this 'revolution'. The only shame on Gaddafi is the way the people are being killed. Everyone has the right to make protest but these shoul be civil protest. We all know how the relations between Lybia and other countries have changed during the last 5 years.
Charles.C.Brown
Feb 22nd 2011, 21:33
If gaddaffi goes and Libya drifts into chaos the whole of Europe will suffer Malta in particular,Many maltese has spent some time working there and earning big bucks including some who are writing anti gaddaffi comments . Many maltese who are making millions from Libya can lose there busInesses and you will soon all see a rise in the price of fuel , . I do not know whats really going on in libyian cities only from what i see and hear on the TV but the truth is, life was not really that bad under gaddaffi and i would never believe everthing what i hear and what people are saying. The anti gaddaffi rebbelion is made up of youths who never lived during the regime of king Idris a puppet who was put there by the british with all the oil revenue going to the U.S and the west while the libyan people where living in holes and shear poverty , libyians should be grateful to gaddaffi and not turn against him they should examine their history which is very similar to ours.Sadly in these countries they always turn to violence which in the end will lead to nothing.
Joseph Galea
Feb 23rd 2011, 09:49
I dare say not only the Maltese but also the Foreigners living on the islands in particular the British AND the Americans as these are tweo main nationalities that are most hated by the regime and others! Jose' Qala
John Micallef
Feb 22nd 2011, 21:33
diskors tad dahq anke l-mod kif tkellem, qisu xi wahda harget titajar mil- galarija!!
Timothy Guntrip
Feb 22nd 2011, 21:26
One can see the fear he is desperately trying to hide - give him a day or two at the most to come to his senses - the mountain gets steeper, the hole you dig gets deeper!
wally vella-zarb
Feb 22nd 2011, 21:20
How edifying it is to read all these opinions about dictators! Strange that I don't recall reading similar opinions when we hosted the CHOGM where there were many leaders of the Commonwealth that would clearly qualify for that description.
Malu Rosso
Feb 22nd 2011, 20:42
Gaddafi its time for you to go. The only ocokroaches in Libya are you and your supporters (if any).
The killing of so many innocent Libyans proves to all the world what a coward you are.
Kenneth Galea
Feb 22nd 2011, 20:36
Good on you Gaddaffi. God forbids if you give up now, as you say then we will have another Somalia with thousands or millions flooding Europen including Malta!!!
Keep strong and firm and as you say hunt down the perpetrators like cockroaches and give them a lesson.
Look what happened in Tunisia, as soon as the illegals or even terrorists noticed a political vacuum they took the opportunity and invaded Italy. We do not want another Tunisian scenario. Gaddaffi stay strong and follow your will.
R Saliba
Feb 22nd 2011, 21:39
You should be ashamed commenting like that. It's a pity you are not there.
John Zammit
Feb 23rd 2011, 22:54
I am ashamed that another maltese shares these horrible thoughts. I wish you were there, A taste of your own medicine would make you think othewise. You should apologise to the Libyan people . They are humans , they have dignity. I
Ronnie Gauci
Feb 22nd 2011, 20:15
You misunderstood the guy, all he meant was that after the civil war his family will open up a new business, a pest control company :)
malcolm seychell
Feb 22nd 2011, 20:07
You are not seeing the big picture.
If gaddafi loses power there is a high probability that extremists muslims take over(al qaeda).
Imbaghad nibku ahna.
Adrian Camilleri
Feb 22nd 2011, 20:05
@M Cachia
He left that part of his palace ''broken down'' on purpose, to commemorate his 18 month old adopted daughter Hana, whom she was victim of the US bombing on the said palace in 1986.
Just a clarification, nothing less.
K Vella
Feb 22nd 2011, 19:32
I hope the UN will intervene. They cannot accept such anarchic approach on his people.
The Libyan people deserves a better living....his same so called brothers whom he killed massacred and hiring mercenaries to finish a job with his 'his' people blood.
Gaddafi MUST be considered as a war criminal.
Geoffrey Mifsud Farrugia
Feb 22nd 2011, 19:23
I would never have believed that in my lifetime, the Libyan people would have actually managed to unite and rebel against this dictator. A dictator that managed to get away with murder by holding the world under ransom for so many years, with so many European politicians being manipluated or blinded by his promises.
History in the making..after all this is over, the world order will not be the same again. Most Libyans are nice people..they have suffered hell under Gaddafi. Many that live in Malta escaped his regime because they could not take it any longer. I am totally against illegal immigration but this is something totally different. The people of Libya deserve our support for having the courage to fight this tyrant.
I hope that they will be wise enough to choose a much better leader after Gaddafi though!
Melvyn Mifsud LLD
Feb 22nd 2011, 19:15
The words of a dying regime ... a clearly desperate reaction.
The regime's position will not get better ..... only worsen - at the expense of so many people.
The pressure will only increase - and the people's power will just increase further.
D. Rockcliffe Touring D Islands
Feb 22nd 2011, 19:10
I said to my indoors for a laugh, fancy wakening up next to this creep Gaddafi first thing in the morning before breakfast, she replied with a loud voice Quote: next time you come up with a silly joke like that, i'll divorce you. So now i know., ogh by the way she skipped the bacon and eggs that morning and instead DRANK CIDER TO FORGET HIS UGLY MUSH
Leonard Gauci
Feb 22nd 2011, 19:09
Paying mercenaries from other countries to kill your own people. How low can one go?
Joe Xuereb
Feb 22nd 2011, 19:04
This colonel has a long track-record of, shall we say, bizarre behaviour (Europe will have a different face, staying in rigged-up tents even on State visits, etc.). And now this speech. In the interim, Malta's PM posed for a photo-shoot with this man and no doubt there were talks of reconciliations, friendships, kisses, co-operation, butter wouldn't melt in the mouth, and a litany of blah blah blah. Gonzi does not have foresight to know this week's unfolding, to be fair to the guy. But he knew about the track-record, Schengen, Switzerland, Yvonne Fletcher R.I.P. in London. Why, in god's name, would anyone want to share a camera frame with such a man. I am a nobody but there are people I would not trust further than I could throw them. And has nobody ever heard that there's such a thing as reading a man's character from his countenance? Say no more! Call me cynical and that's fine by me, your humble queer.
Edwin Mifsud
Feb 22nd 2011, 19:00
"Those who the gods wish to destroy,... they first make MAD!" John Enoch Powell
ray sacco
Feb 22nd 2011, 18:59
"I WILL NOT GIVE UP"......................that s what mubarak kept saying!
J Camilleri
Feb 22nd 2011, 18:52
Get all Maltese out of there as soon as possible! Our Airline which we thank for their courage, pleas do give Maltese nationals priority first!!
Tonio abela
Feb 22nd 2011, 18:50
"I am not going to leave this land, and I will die here as a martyr'.
Nice meaning of martyr ,one who is butchering his own people.
Dennis Theuma
Feb 22nd 2011, 18:43
My little girl saw his picture on the box and started to screem, she said later that he looked like a one of the papermash figures from last year's carnival. I hate to think what he looks like first thing in the morning, probably a dried up Cockroach crawling upo a drain pipe.
Alex Buds
Feb 22nd 2011, 18:42
He belongs in a prison cell with only cockroaches for company. Actually prison is too good for him.
anthea doughty
Feb 22nd 2011, 18:41
You only need to look at Gadaffi's dreadful plastic surgery to see the man is deluded and yes he should be tried for crimes against mankind.
I also hope that the latest dreadful events do not mean yet another massive influx for Malta.
R cassar
Feb 22nd 2011, 18:39
Gaddafi supportes are all out supporting him again, and no big countries are clearly against him....i think he will be back in full power very shortly!
M.Cachia
Feb 22nd 2011, 18:53
My foot!! They're not his supporters, they're most probably coerced peoples - told to chant at gunpoint. The people will not back down, if they do they will be shot - so it's better to try liberate yourself and possibly die than back down and definitly die (possibly tortured too)
Jon Agius
Feb 22nd 2011, 18:29
Brainwashing using the past to cover the present. Sounds familiar :D
steve elliott
Feb 22nd 2011, 18:29
'we will chase the cockroaches'" says Gaddafi. well, he will be chasing himself. cockroaches are vermin and that is what you are gaddafi.
Mark Piscopo
Feb 22nd 2011, 18:18
Gaddafi warns "I WILL CLEANSE THE people house by house if protests persists" Schocking news. GENOCIDE UNDERWAY
Charles J. Buttigieg
Feb 22nd 2011, 18:18
Libya and the best part of Africa is ruled by tyrants while the rest of the world leaders remain placid to safeguard the interest that they could gain out of that continent’s wealth at the cost of the Africans misery. World leaders would give a lot of importance and care to ailing dolphins on a beach and then they would turn their backs when they see a massive martyrdom of souls. They will however tread in if it benefits their political agenda to enhance their country’s wealth. Shame on the UN for being tolerant and trying to pass on the bug to the USA and or the EU.
M.Cachia
Feb 22nd 2011, 18:17
This speech has clearly shown that this man is holed up, back to the wall and desperate. I bet my hind teeth that the situation for him is worse than we actually think, it looks very similar to the last days of Saddam Hussien. Think about it - a broadcast from a broken down house, no supporters, a few military men running around worried, does think look like a man in control?
t. borg
Feb 22nd 2011, 18:13
Killing Libyans by sending jets fighters firing on protesters is inhuman and he should be tried. Gaddafi should tell the people how much billions of dollars he has in foreign banks.
Coward is that person who runs like a rat from one place to another and not holding a free election.
D.Callus
Feb 22nd 2011, 18:08
Diskors ta' dittatur li jahseb li l- pajjiz ma jghaddix minghajru u minghajr ir- razza tieghu.
J Farrugia
Feb 22nd 2011, 17:57
I only hope that the 5+5 meeting will not allow Gadaffi to touch Maltese soil. We dont want murderers and killers of their own blood iniside our country. Gadaffi is persona non grata in Malta. I only hope that the Libyan people will succeed in their revolution against the tyrants and have him hanged like Saddam Hussein has been. So die all dictators.
Kenneth Cassar
Feb 22nd 2011, 17:57
Cocroaches? Has he looked in the mirror lately? Let's hope his days are numbered.
James Dimech
Feb 22nd 2011, 17:47
The Hutu tribe used to call the Tutsis "cockroaches" during the genocide in Rwanda. Lovely terminology that Gaddafi is choosing.
I hope he is ousted and Libya returns to stability as soon as possible
Carmel Saliba
Feb 22nd 2011, 17:42
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in a fighting and disjointed speech on state television this afternoon promised that he would not give up, as other leaders had done.
EVEN THE TWO OTHER LEADERS OF TUNISIA AND EGYPT DELIVERED THE SAME MESSAGE BUT AT LAST THEY ABDICATED.
D Bonello
Feb 22nd 2011, 17:36
What a manipulator!!!
Mel.Johnston
Feb 22nd 2011, 17:36
He should be put away and throw the key away, and perhaps maybe tried for war crimes same as Saddam and the rest of the other twats running loose.
M.Camilleri
Feb 22nd 2011, 17:32
As long as our great politicians went to visit him last week on a diplomatic mission, I am happy and proud ! Wow... what a nation.
Denis Pace
Feb 22nd 2011, 20:48
What about warning him that american fighter planes are flying over Malta to bombard him....What do you call that???
Dr Francis Saliba
Feb 22nd 2011, 17:16
"Gaddafi said he would not give up and would resist to the end of his life because this was his country, watered by the Libyan people's blood."
Fancy that! And we all thought that it was Gaddafi who was doing the watering of Libyan soil with the Libyan people's blood and he had to employ foreign mercenary gardeners to ensure that Libyan soil was well watered with that Libyan blood. Perhaps that is the reason why he complained about foreign stray dogs!
Aldrin Borg
Feb 22nd 2011, 17:25
This is not the time for funny anecdotes Dr. Saliba. And it's not even funny anyway.
anthony pace
Feb 22nd 2011, 18:29
What about the Great Man-made River ? Gaddafi's 'Pharaohonic' Project !
Has it materialized to render the predicted bounty for the JAMAHARIJA ?
This was supposed to water the Semi-desert expanses NOT the Libyan peoples Blood !
Dr Francis Saliba
Feb 22nd 2011, 19:36
@AldrinBorg.
Let me spell it out for you. I am NOT recounting funny anecdotes. I am angrily and caustically mocking Gaddafi for insulting our intelligence by blaming others for the atrociities he is committing himself against his own people.
Please choose the reason of your report below: