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Gaddafi sons send conflicting messages to rebels

China.org.cn, September 1, 2011

In an audio tape broadcast on a Syrian TV channel, Saif al-Islam, the second son of toppled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Wednesday urged Gaddafi's loyalists to continue resistance against the rebels, while his younger brother, Saadi, sent a contradictory message, saying he was authorized by his father to negotiate with the rebels to end the bloodshed in Libya.

Saif al-Islam, the second son of toppled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi

Hinting that he was speaking from the suburb of Tripoli Saif al-Islam Gaddafi claimed that resistance was continuing and victory is near.

He also vowed that the Green Square in Tripoli will be liberated from the rebels' control soon.

He said that there are more than 20,000 armed youths in Sirte, Gaddafi's hometown, and one of the few towns is still under their control.

Saif said that his father is fine, without giving details about his whereabouts.

However, Gaddafi’s third son, Saadi, said Wednesday that he held a phone talk with a member of the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) on ending the bloodshed in Libya, al-Arabiya TV reported.

Saadi said that he was authorized by his father to contact the rebels, and that Gaddafi's government acknowledged that the NTC represents "a legal party."

But voices from the rebels seem to indicate that Saadi could be a window for penetration, as they were reportedly saying Wednesday that Saadi's life would be safe should he surrender. Yet, latest information showed Saadi was still reluctant to give himself away.

Libyan rebels said Gaddafi's foreign minister Abdelati Obeidi, who took place of defected Mussa Kussa, had been arrested at his farm in Janzour, a suburb west of Tripoli, al-Jazeera television reported.

Rebel military spokesman Col. Ahmed Bani said last Sunday at a news conference that Gaddafi's youngest son Khamis might have been shot dead by rebel troops some 80 km southeast to Tripoli, but Bani said he could not confirm the death.

In an unconfirmed report on its website, Algeria's French- language newspaper El Watan said Wednesday Muammar Gaddafi was staying in a town on the Libyan-Algerian border waiting for permission to enter Algeria.

Sources from the Algerian president's office was quoted that accompanied by the rest of his family, Gaddafi was in Ghadames, an oasis town in west Libya.

Gaddafi had tried to negotiate with the Algerian authorities on his entry into Algeria, the report said, adding that Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika refused to answer Gaddafi's phone calls.

Instead, a presidential aide apologized to Gaddafi and told him Bouteflika was busy, said the report, which can not be immediately confirmed.

The whereabouts of Gaddafi and his two sons, Saif and Saadi, remains a mystery since the rebels captured the military compound, Bab al-Aziziya, in Tripoli on Aug. 23.

Gaddafi's wife Safia, his daughter Aisha, his sons Hannibal and Mohammed, accompanied by their children, entered Algeria at 08:45 a.m. local time (0745 GMT) through the Algerian-Libyan border, the Algerian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Monday.