Colonel Muammar Gaddafi today attacked the United Nations, branding the Security Council the "terror council".

He was addressing the UN in New York as those affected by terrorist attacks protested at his his presence outside.

The Libyan leader lambasted the UN's "inequality" and inability to prevent some 65 wars breaking out since being founded in 1945.

His words came as relatives of victims of the Lockerbie bombing gathered on the roads leading to the UN compound to demonstrate against his appearance in front of the general assembly.

They were joined by those affected by the September 11 attacks in New York and family members of victims of IRA violence in Northern Ireland.

As they united in their condemnation of Gaddafi, the man himself used the opportunity of speaking to world leaders to hit out at the UN's structure.

He said Libya did not accept, acknowledge or recognise the UN charter and criticised the make-up of the Security Council.

Dressed in brown robes with a large shiny black badge of Africa attached, Gaddafi read from hand-written notes contained in a yellow folder.

He called for an abolition of veto rights for the permanent council members.

"It should not be called the Security Council, it should be called the 'terror council'," he said.

Gaddafi added that the body should be more representative with a place on the council for African nations.

He also attacked the UN's inability to prevent conflict, noting that since 1945 "sixty-five aggressive wars took place without any collective action by the United Nations to prevent them".

Gaddafi's speech directly followed that of President Barack Obama.

The Libyan leader welcomed the US leader's address, adding that he was "a glimpse in the dark".

He contrasted it to the actions of the previous US administration, calling on the Bush administration to be held to account over the Iraq war.

He said that those who have participated in mass murder against Iraqis should be tried.

Gaddafi added that the US will never come to a "fruitful" result in terms of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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