Libya is tearing itself apart at the seams in an orgy of blood and bullets as its hated and delusional leader, Moammar Khadafy, continues to inhabit a fantasy world where his country is at peace and he is revered by his loyal subjects.
The country braced for civil war as the 68-year-old despot’s forces and the rebels fought fierce battles.
In the latest violence, scores of people were killed yesterday when Khadafy’s troops opened fire on 10,000 protesters gathered in Tripoli.
They also reclaimed key border crossings with Tunisia, bombed an ammunition depot in the east and encircled two rebel-controlled cities near the capital.
In Zawiyah, an oil-producing town 30 miles west of Tripoli, Khadafy’s son, Khamis Khadafy, was seen leading brigades to the outskirts of the town and preparing for an all-out attack.
At least 10 people were killed in skirmishes at the city limits. And, in Misrata, a city with half-million residents 125 miles east of the capital, a military aircraft was gunned down as it fired on a radio station. The plane’s crew was captured by rebels.
As the violence raged on, Khadafy continued to see desert mirages.
He told ABC’s Christiane Amanpour yesterday, “All my people love me,” and denied any protests were held in Tripoli.
The dictator said he was surprised President Obama, “a good man,” doesn’t support his attacks on “terrorists.”
“We have an alliance with the West to fight al Qaeda, and now that we are fighting terrorists, they have abandoned us,” he said. “Perhaps they want to occupy Libya.”
Asked by reporters whether he would go into exile, he laughed and said, “Who would leave their homeland?”
Meanwhile, US warships steamed toward Libya after officials warned that all options are being considered to oust the Khadafy.
“Nothing is off the table,” Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in the latest veiled threat from the Obama administration. “It is time for Khadafy to go — now, without further violence or delay.”
Pentagon spokesman Marine Col. Dave Lapan said, “We have planners working various contingency plans.”
Meanwhile:
* White House spokesman Jay Carney suggested Khadafy should take refuge abroad, an idea that was endorsed by Imelda Marcos, of all people. The former Philippine first lady, 81, said her husband, Ferdinand, went into exile in Hawaii in 1986 to avoid a civil war.
* The Treasury Department said it was freezing at least $30 billion in Libyan assets.
* British Prime Minister David Cameron said he was considering establishing a no-fly zone over Libya and providing arms to the rebels.