Gaddafi arming supporters to 'crush enemy'

[Matilda]

Source: ABC (Australia) Online

Moamar Gaddafi has vowed defiantly to triumph over his enemies, saying he will throw open the country's arsenals to his supporters in a rabble-rousing speech that presaged a bloody battle for the Libyan capital.

It comes as the Department of Foreign Affairs says that 17 Australians have left strife-torn Libya on two ferries bound for Malta.

Addressing hundreds of cheering supporters from the old city ramparts looking over Tripoli's Green Square, Mr Gaddafi, wearing a winter jacket and a hunter's cap that covered his ears, said when necessary he would open Libya's arsenals of guns to the tribes.

"We can crush any enemy. We can crush it with the people's will. The people are armed and when necessary, we will open arsenals to arm all the Libyan people and all Libyan tribes," he said.



Read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/26/3149625.htm

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This is his ultimate weapon, of course, and it would seem that only the
defection of the army could stop it. But there have been reports (BBC)
that he is holding the wives and children of top army brass as hostages
to make sure they don't do just that.

He is completely mad, and I fear for the people - how much can they take?

[Taverner]

1. It looks like Stalin's USSR would have looked like if people revolted

[David__77]

2. I don't think the army can do much.

It would take the militia.