Gaddafi's son says rebellion brewing in new Libya
File picture.
Saadi Gaddafi, one of the sons of Muammar Gaddafi has claimed that a nationwide rebellion is brewing against the country's new rulers as he vowed to return to his homeland.
"I will return to Libya at any time," Saadi Gaddafi told Al-Arabiya television by telephone from neighbouring Niger, where he took refuge after the fall of Tripoli which ended his father's 42-year iron-fisted rule of Libya.
"Seventy percent of Libyans are not satisfied with the current situation," he said in an interview, adding that "the Libyan people are ruled by gangs."
Gaddafi said "there is a rebellion that is going on day after day, and there will be a rebellion in the entire country."
Asked about the ruling National Transitional Council, which took over after his father's overthrow last year, Gaddafi said: "There will come a day when the Libyan people will be capable of wiping out these gangs."
When he returned, "I will try to make sure that there are no reprisals or revenge operations," he promised.
The NTC responded with a renewed call to the Niger authorities to extradite Saadi.
"The NTC requests to the government of Niger to immediately hand over Saadi and other fugitives to the Libyan authorities to maintain its interests and relations with the Libyan people," spokesman Mohamed Nasr al-Harizi said in a statement.
Harizi warned that the "thuwar (former rebel militias) have not given up their arms and are ready to fight any unwise force."
Libya's official news agency LANA reported that Libyan Foreign Minister Ashur bin Khayyal denounced Saadi's remarks in a telephone talk with his Niger counterpart Mohamed Bazum.
"This declaration (by Saadi) is harmful to the relations between the two countries," Khayyal said.
"Niger government must take tough measures against Saadi, including handing him over to Libyan authorities to judge him for the crimes committed against the Libyan people," LANA quoted Khayyal as telling Bazum.
LANA said Bazum "apologised" to Khayyal and "expressed his regret to the Libyan government and the Libyan people about what happened."
Saadi, 38, took refuge in Niger last August. The African country has refused to extradite him despite repeated requests from the new Libyan authorities.
They accuse him of having "taken goods by force and intimidation when he led the Libyan football federation," according to international police organisation Interpol, which issued a "red notice" for his arrest.
Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou said on November 11 his country had granted political asylum to Saadi Gaddafi on "humanitarian grounds."
The uprising that ousted Muammar Gaddafi erupted on February 17, 2011 in the eastern city of Benghazi and later spread across the entire country.
The bloody conflict ended with the capture and killing of the ousted dictator on October 20 after a fierce battle for his hometown Sirte.
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Alfred Falzon
Feb 12th, 19:53
THE KADHAFIs' DREAM OF THE "LIBYAN THRONE"
When will the Kadhafis realise that it is now too late to continue aspiring for the Libyan "throne"?
Their attempt to set up a Dynasty backfired the moment the LIBYAN PEOPLE stood up to be counted and now they have to face the music slain despot Kadhafi bequeathed to the destitute free Libyans whose rebellion with a cause, and at what price, brought the whole house down for them!
First it was Aisha, squeaking from Algeria, now its Al-Saadi Kadhafi another "pretender to the throne" threatening with fire and brimstone, from his late father's ally Niger, all those who rose bravely against one of the most brutal dictatorships that Libya has ever known in the annals of its history!
And who is this 35-year old Saadi Kadafi now claiming to lead another Insurrection against the FREE LIBYANS?
First and foremost a businessman involved in many national "projects"! A Montreal engineering firm SNC-Lavalin spent more than $2 million on him while moose-hunting in Northern Quebec and paying for the champagne (isn't he a fervent Muslim?) that was delivered to his 5-star hotel room!
Internationally, he is described as being the blacksheep of despot Kadhafi's family, having been involved in various incidents - scuffles with European police, "abuse of drugs and alkohol", "excessive partying" and "profligate affairs with persons of both sexes".
As a former Commander of Libya's Special Forces, he has been accused of personally ordering to shoot unarmed protesters in Benghazi when visiting the city's army barracks at the start of the Uprising.
He fled to Niger on September 11, 2011 under the protection of mercenaries who reportedly transported stolen gold bullion on the armoured vehicles that accompanied him!
On 7th December 2011, the Mexican Interior Ministry revealed that its Intelligence agents had broken up a smuggling ring attempting to bring Al-Saadi into Mexico under a false name!
He even had a try at football, at one point in time, on 6th June 2000, the BBC reported that he had signed with Maltese champions Birkirkara FC only to opt later for Italian Serie "A" clubs but had to give up after failing a drug test!
Free Libya is reportedly (sic) "shuddering" at his bluff, others are having a whale of a time enjoying his proverbial antics!
Alfred A. Falzon
Joseph Ellul
Feb 12th, 05:44
It seems that Saadi has GOLD hidden away. If he does, then he will wage war. The greedy filthy rich war mongers will do anything for gold. First they killed Saddam for his gold, then Gaddafi, but he knew better and hid most of it away. So, let us all hawke our gold and buy M16's and RPG's. Turn our ploughs into swords and kill each other so that when we are all dead or destitute, these "bankers" can come in lend us $US worth SFA.
James Tyrrell
Feb 12th, 03:30
If it is true that seventy percent of Libyans are not satisfied with the current situation, which I don't actually believe myself, it does not necessarily mean that those seventy percent want another member of the Gaddafi family in power again. If that were indeed the case then the rest of the world should wipe their hands of the situation and say to hell with them, they deserve what they get.
Lawrence Camilleri
Feb 11th, 19:13
If they are unwilling to extradite him, they should warn him that they will if he contnues using Niger soil and hospitality to foment unrest in Libya.
Shaun Anthony Camilleri
Feb 11th, 18:35
Saadi is just a coward and an incompetent in whatever he does or did. To play for Perugia he had to buy the place and when investigations for drug taking were on the way he fled stating he did not take drugs yet did not want to undergo a drugs test. All he is doing now is taking advantage of what he sees going on in Libya. It is true that there are many against the Transitional (Temporary) rulers but that does not mean they are for a Ghaddafi. They are just not happy with what they have inherited which is basically a face change.
James Dewar
Feb 11th, 16:41
Maybe better not to let him incite further unrest and violence from Niger. His family had decades to create a fair and just Libya and failed miserably to trhe deriment of thousands. Can't see why they should ever be allowed to play a part in Libyan affairs or further de-stabilise the country by propoganda from outwith.
Paul Borg
Feb 11th, 16:16
Maybe Saadi should try a democratic approach to re-insert himself in politics, but first he has to apologise to his own people for fleeing like a rat at a time when his country needed him.
Brandon Spiteri
Feb 11th, 14:43
For Gaddafi's son to assure his right to power, he must make necessarily contacts with Russia, China and Syria so that his rule is more legitimate and not prone to another UN invasion.
silvio loporto
Feb 11th, 14:37
The only good thing about Gaddaffi is that he is dead and gone,ways should be found to make the remaining members of his family,to join him
Tony Busuttil
Feb 11th, 14:15
it seems that after the Arab Spring a dark winter is coming again to Arab countries. A year today Mubarak was removed and what happened? demonstrations every day
John Azzopoardi
Feb 11th, 14:02
Let us hope the GAddafi's will not return as Malta will then be in deep trouble for turning on them. I do believe that LIbya today is much better off though. There are too many factions and it seems that the Libyans cannot do it alone. As I have been saying. Stay away from Libya right now. It's not the time to go there or invest there. Do so at your own risk.
m. borg (slm)
Feb 11th, 13:16
Am I wrong in saying that he wasregistered and played for B'kara FC.some years ago?
A. Xuereb
Feb 11th, 14:09
On 6 June 2000, the BBC reported that Gaddafi had signed with Maltese champions Birkirkara F.C. and would play for them in the Champions League. The move failed to materialize.
Gordon Borg
Feb 11th, 14:35
yes you are wrong,there was another libyan playing for the stripes;goalkeeper Musbah Shangeb.There where rumours that Saadi was backing(financially)B'kara FC through LAFICO.
John Borg (mlh)
Feb 11th, 17:22
Yes Mr. Borg, you are wrong in stating so. He (Saadi Gaddafi) was never registered with Birkirkara FC, nor was there ever any intention to do so. He merely took part in a friendly match with his time while this team was on a training camp in Malta.
@ Mr. Gordon Borg - Lafico nor Gaddafi never offered any form of financial sponsorship to Birkirkara FC, nor was it ever solicited.
Birkirkara FC did at the time have a Libiyan Goalkeeper, Musbah Shangeb, playing with the team, who's registration was in no way connected to Gaddafi. Gaddafi did in fact later go on to register with Perugia in the Italian serie A and was known to have a considerable amount of shares in Juventus FC.
Francis Grech
Feb 11th, 13:12
The name Gadaffi is not yet dead in Libya some day it will return and RULE again a god send for Malta.
MALCOLM SEYCHELL
Feb 11th, 13:59
Libyans are realizing that they have been taken for a ride by Sarkozy, Nato, EU and Gonzi. It is a matter of time, that they will end up in a civil war.
I. Mercieca
Feb 11th, 15:48
Intom bis-serjeta jew???? Mela sewwa jghidu li ghad baqa bhahen go dan il-pajjiz.
Andre' Camenzuli
Feb 11th, 21:00
nahseb ahjar tqum mir-raqda sur Mercieca biex ghadek ma rrealizzajtx kemm Sarkozy, EU u Nato bellghu hrejjef biex iwarrbu lil Gaddafi. Ma tantx hrigt ta ragel tghajjar in-nies bhahan meta int kont xi mazzun u blajt kollox li qalulek is-sinjuri Ewropej
Philip Hili
Feb 12th, 00:34
@ Andre' Camenzuli
Sur Camenzuli, biex tghajjar lil haddiehor mazzun trid tkun buzullileqa biex tigi tikteb dan il-kumment. Issa jekk Sarkosy, EU u Nato hargux ta' nies mal-Libjani, MHUX INTI TGHIDU, izda dawk li gew liberati minn dan it-tiran!
Pero' jekk inti taqbel mat-tiranija ta' dan il-buffu, allura postok mhux hawn imma hdejn Gaddafi. Dan mhux jien qieghed nghidu izda dawk li helsu minnu.