Libya: Saif Gaddafi says his father is in ‘high spirits’
Despite more Libya violence, Colonel Gaddafi’s son Saif has told Channel 4 News his father is in high spirits and that civil war has been averted – meanwhile the UN is considering “concrete action”.
Colonel Gaddafi‘s son Saif Gaddafi has told Channel 4 News his father is feeling “good” despite reports of further gunfire in Tripoli and fears of a looming civil war.
He dismissed reports the eastern city of Benghazi had fallen to revolutionaries, despite the city being held by rebels for several days.
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Following a press conference – organised by the Libyan regime – he told Foreign Affairs Correspondent Jonathan Rugman: “In Benghazi there is 1.5 million people – people are afraid or armed militia on the ground.
“Benghazi is part of Libya, the people of Benghazi are our brothers. We have no chance to live in separate worlds.
“We live together and die together. We are brothers, we are one family, one country.
Read more: Who Knows Who – Saif Gaddafi, son and heir
Asked about the fear of a looming civil war, he dismissed the idea , saying “Not anymore, not anymore.”
“Because the Libyan people, they woke up and now they realise the danger around them.
“So now, we are more optimistic and much stronger.”
Saif Gaddafi also said that his father, Muammar Gaddafi was in “very high” spirits and feeling “very good”.
UN calls for ‘concrete action’
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for “concrete action” to protect civilians in Libya as governments around the world condemn Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s crackdown against opposition protesters.
Ban urged the United Nations Security Council to consider a wide range of options, including trade and financial sanctions, travel bans, an arms embargo and a freeze of Libyan assets.
He also called for those responsible for human rights violations to be punished.
He said: “It is time for the Security Council to consider concrete action,” Ban told council members at the start of a meeting to consider action against Gadhafi’s regime.
“The hours and the days ahead will be decisive for Libyans and their country with equally important implications for the wider region.”