Libya is confronting an attempt by the Al Qaeda terrorist network to destabilize the situation there and in another Arab countries, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi claimed on Wednesday in an interview with the Turkish TRT media holding.
Inspired by the recent overthrow of authoritarian regimes in Tunisia and Egypt, Gaddafi's opponents are demanding an end to his 42-year rule. International human rights organizations said about 6,000 people have been killed since the anti-Gaddafi protests began on February 15. The UN said the death toll ranged from 1,000 to 2,000 people.
Gaddafi has already blamed the unrest on the Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, who he said were seeking to turn Libya into a state resembling Afghanistan or Somalia.
"If Al Qaeda invades Libya there will be a huge catastrophe...the entire region, including Israel, will be plunged into chaos," Gaddafi said, adding that no one except Libya could prevent it.
He also called on the Turkish investors to return to Libya, saying Turks and Libyans were brothers since they had been living together for hundreds of years.
The UN Security Council adopted a resolution on February 26 on "targeted measures" against the current Libyan government. The sanctions include a total arms embargo, travel bans and freezing of accounts held by the country's leadership.
ANKARA, March 9 (RIA Novosti)
