Muammar Qadhafi has called on Libyans to take to the streets and wage a campaign of civil disobedience against the country’s new leaders, the first word from the fugitive leader in just over two weeks.
In comments broadcast on Thursday, Mr. Qadhafi said the National Transitional Council, which has assumed leadership of the country since then-rebel forces swept into Tripoli in late August, has no legitimacy because it was not nominated or appointed by the Libyan people.
He called on his countrymen to “go out in new million-man marches in all cities and villages and oases.”
“Be courageous, rise up, go out in the streets,” he said. “Raise the green flag in the skies ... the conditions in Libya are unbearable.”
Mr. Qadhafi made the appeal in a poor quality audio recording and it was not possible to verify his identity, but it was broadcast on Syrian-based Al-Rai TV , which has become the mouthpiece of his resistance.
Revolutionary forces, aided by NATO airstrikes, have gained control over most of the North African nation and forced the leader and two of his sons into hiding.
Mr.Qadhafi has made several speeches on Al-Rai as he tries to rally supporters, who are still waging fierce resistance in his besieged hometown of Sirte, the town of Bani Walid southeast of Tripoli and pockets in the south.
He was last heard on Sept. 20 calling the revolution a “charade gaining its legitimacy through airstrikes.”
The International Red Cross, meanwhile, delivered medical supplies and other humanitarian aid to civilians in Sirte amid rapidly deteriorating conditions.
Dibeh Fakhr, a spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross, said two trucks entered Sirte and distributed the goods, which included baby milk, hygiene kits, diapers and clean drinking water.
NATO ministers meeting in Brussels on Thursday said the bombing campaign in Libya will continue until armed resistance to the new pro-Western regime ceases.
