Taunting NATO, Moammar Khadafy said Friday that he is alive despite a series of airstrikes and “in a place where you can’t get to and kill me.”
Khadafy had appeared on state TV but not been heard speaking since a NATO attack on his Tripoli compound two weeks ago, which officials said killed one of his sons and three grandchildren.
“I tell the coward crusaders — I live in a place where you can’t get to and kill me,” he said. “I live in the hearts of millions.”
Shortly before Khadafy’s remarks were broadcast, regime spokesman Moussa Ibrahim claimed that NATO had attacked Brega while dozens of imams and officials from across Libya were gathered there to pray for peace. Ibrahim said 11 imams were killed in their sleep at a guesthouse, and 50 people were wounded, including five in critical condition.
UNITED STATES: White House aide meets with Libyan opposition.
The U.S. and NATO will continue military operations in Libya as long as Moammar Khadafy keeps attacking his people, the White House said Friday as top U.S. officials met in Washington with leaders of the Libyan opposition.
President Barack Obama’s national security adviser, Tom Donilon, met at the White House with a delegation from the Libyan Transitional National Council, including top representative Mahmoud Jibril. While the U.S. stopped short of recognizing the council as Libya’s legitimate government, the White House said in a statement after the meeting that the council is a “credible interlocutor of the Libyan people.”
Obama did not meet with the opposition leaders.
EGYPT: Mubarak’s spouse hospitalized with chest pains.
Suzanne Mubarak, wife of ousted leader Hosni Mubarak, was hospitalized in the intensive-care unit Friday after suffering severe chest pains upon hearing the news that she had been ordered detained on corruption allegations.
The director of the hospital said she had a heart problem and was in unstable condition at the hospital in this Red Sea resort community, where her husband also has been hospitalized.
The detention order came a day after the 70-year-old former first lady was questioned for the first time since she was accused of taking advantage of her husband’s position to enrich herself.
YEMEN: Rival forces clash; three soldiers killed.
Yemeni troops loyal to the country’s embattled president attacked the camp of a senior military commander turned defector in the capital, Sana, on Friday, and an ensuing gunbattle left at least three soldiers dead, military officials said.
The clash between the rival forces took the turmoil gripping Yemen to a new level, even as anti-government demonstrators rallied Friday in several cities and towns pressing their demand for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to leave office.
TUNISIA: Italy delivers four patrol boats.
The Tunisian interior minister says Italy has delivered four frigates to Tunisia’s government to help patrol its coasts as part of efforts to curb illegal immigration toward Europe.
Denver Post wire services
