The New Dark Age

22 August 2011 — Adnkronos Security

A total of 5,000 people were also injured as rebel fighters entered Tripoli in their final push to oust Gaddafi from power, over six months after the conflict began.

Ibrahim blamed Nato for the ‘bloodbath’ in Libya in which thousands of people are believed to have been killed since the conflict began in mid-February.

‘We expect the death toll to rise beyond anyone’s imagination,’ he said.

Moussa urged Libyans to ‘take heart’ and fight for Gaddafi, claiming Libya still needed the strongman, who has ruled Libya since seizing power in a military coup in 1969.

Nato has since 31 March conducted a UN military mission to to protect civilians from a brutal crackdown by Gaddafi’s armed forces and to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya.

Bombing raids by Nato jets have focused heavily on weapons stockpiles and command and control centres, although the Libyan government has alleged many hundreds of civilians have been killed and thousands injured in the Nato raids.

As Libya’s dictator prepared for what is widely expected to be his last stand, he vowed on Sunday that he would not be forced into exile.

‘We will fight to the last drop of blood,’ Gaddafi said. ‘We will never give up.’

Gaddafi’s heavily fortified compound in the centre of Tripoli was bombed again by Nato jets early on Sunday, and only several miles away uprisings were reported to be underway in the suburbs of Tajoura and Fashloum.

Residents were reported to be fleeing in large numbers, with most being allowed to pass through rebel-held Zawiya to the Ras Jdir crossing into Tunisia.