EnglishLady
Veteran Expediter
BBC News Feb 20
Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's son, Sayf al-Islam, has admitted the country's military over-reacted when dealing with protesters.
But, speaking on Libyan TV, he accused the opposition and Islamist groups of trying to break up the country.
He said troops had opened fire on protesters because they were not trained to handle civil unrest.
His address was broadcast as the first anti-government rallies broke out in the Libyan capital Tripoli.
The sound of gunfire could be heard across the city. Witnesses said tear gas and live ammunition were used by the security forces.
Reports from the eastern city of Benghazi say more than 200 people have died there in recent days after the Libyan military used heavy weapons against protesters.
Sayf al-Islam said "some" people had been killed but accused foreign media of exaggerating the violence, and said reports of high death tolls were "imaginary".
He accused "opposition elements" living abroad of trying to initiate an Egypt-style Facebook revolution in Libya.
"They have started a campaign to bring Libya to a point reached by Egypt and Tunisia," he said.
"Security forces have pre-empted this and arrested some of the people involved. A few people have died and violence against the police has escalated... This is what happened in Benghazi."
He warned of the threat of civil war, saying "everyone" in the country was armed and, if war started, Libyans would be "mourning hundreds and thousands of casualties".
He said that "drunkards and thugs" were driving tanks about the streets, and rioters were fuelled by drugs.
Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's son, Sayf al-Islam, has admitted the country's military over-reacted when dealing with protesters.
But, speaking on Libyan TV, he accused the opposition and Islamist groups of trying to break up the country.
He said troops had opened fire on protesters because they were not trained to handle civil unrest.
His address was broadcast as the first anti-government rallies broke out in the Libyan capital Tripoli.
The sound of gunfire could be heard across the city. Witnesses said tear gas and live ammunition were used by the security forces.
Reports from the eastern city of Benghazi say more than 200 people have died there in recent days after the Libyan military used heavy weapons against protesters.
Sayf al-Islam said "some" people had been killed but accused foreign media of exaggerating the violence, and said reports of high death tolls were "imaginary".
He accused "opposition elements" living abroad of trying to initiate an Egypt-style Facebook revolution in Libya.
"They have started a campaign to bring Libya to a point reached by Egypt and Tunisia," he said.
"Security forces have pre-empted this and arrested some of the people involved. A few people have died and violence against the police has escalated... This is what happened in Benghazi."
He warned of the threat of civil war, saying "everyone" in the country was armed and, if war started, Libyans would be "mourning hundreds and thousands of casualties".
He said that "drunkards and thugs" were driving tanks about the streets, and rioters were fuelled by drugs.
