Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi fears that number one terrorist, al-Qaeda’s Osama Bin Laden, will take control over Libya making it “the second Afghanistan,” Gaddafi told Russia Today (RT) satellite TV channel on Thursday.
“Al-Qaeda will establish Jihad in Northern Africa and the West will have to oppose the dangerous challenges, triggering a new crusade,” Gaddafi said in an interview with RT.
Gaddafi has already blamed the unrest on al-Qaeda and Bin Laden, who he said were seeking to turn Libya into a state resembling Afghanistan or Somalia.
Al-Qaeda authorities were spreading fake reports about thousands of people being killed, though the number of victims in Libyan clashes did not exceed 150-200, the Libyan leader said.
The ongoing clashes between Libyan rebels and Gaddafi supporters have been raging in the country since mid-February. International organizations estimate the number of victims has reached 6,000.
Gaddafi also said the West was not interested in orchestrating mass disturbances in Libya since the North African state had large investments in Europe.
MOSCOW, March 17 (RIA Novosti)