Gaddafi described NATO as “murderers”, stressing that his forces have their “backs to the wall” and vowing the war with the western alliance would continue “to the beyond”.
Libyan embattled leader Muammar Gaddafi described NATO as “murderers”, stressing that his forces have their “backs to the wall” and vowing the war with the western alliance would continue “to the beyond”.
In an audio tape broadcast on state television on Wednesday night, Gaddafi said: “"We will resist and the battle will continue to the beyond, until you're wiped out. But we will not be finished”.
"You said, 'we hit our targets with precision', you murderers ... One day we will respond to you likewise and your homes will be legitimate targets."
"There's no longer any agreement after you killed our children and our grandchildren... We have our backs to the wall. You (the West) can move back," he added referring to a NATO strike which claimed the lives of civilians days earlier.
"We will stay, we will resist and we will not give in. Strike with your missiles, two, three, 10 or 100 years. We are not frightened. We are not trying to live or escape," Gaddafi said.
CIVILIAN DEATHS
Civilian casualties have raised doubts about the efficiency of NATO’s military campaign in the African country, with the operation is to end its third month.
Italy's foreign minister Franco Frattini and the outgoing head of the Arab League Amr Moussa have each called for a halt to hostilities in the war-torn North African country.
Frattini told members of parliament on Wednesday that the suspension of military operations in Libya was "essential" for immediate humanitarian aid, while Moussa, the Arab League chief, called for a political solution to the crisis.
MILITARY CAMPAIGN
However, France expressed a different view, saying the military operations should be "intensified".
"Any pause in operations would risk allowing him to play for time and to reorganize. In the end, it would be the civilian population that would suffer from the smallest sign of weakness on our behalf," Bernard Valero, a French foreign ministry spokesman, said.
Meanwhile, media outlets reported NATO warplanes had bombed a government ammunition depot near the city of Zintan Wednesday night.
Al-Jazeera reporter said explosions could be heard every 30 to 40 seconds.
Also on Wednesday, NATO Chief, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said the western alliance would continue its operations in Libya.
"NATO will continue this mission because if we stop, countless more civilians could lose their lives," Rasmussen said in a video statement on the NATO website.
Rasmussen also expressed regret about civilian deaths, saying the alliance was taking care to avoid civilian casualties.
"Since the start of this mission we have conducted over 5,000 strikes sorties, and as our record shows we have taken utmost care to minimize the risk of civilian casualties and we continue to do that every day and every hour," he said.
"I deeply regret any loss of life in this conflict."
For its part, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said there was no doubt that Gaddafi's men had "their backs against the wall."
Clinton said Libya's opposition was making very clear progress on the ground in Libya.
