CAIRO: Libya’s Moammar Qaddafi called on his supporters to set Libya alight, vowed that his backers would not give up and said those against him were divided, Arabic news channels reported on Thursday.
"Let there be a long fight and let Libya be engulfed in flames," Gaddafi was quoted as saying.
A Libyan military chief said Qaddafi was believed to be in Bani Walid outside Tripoli planning a fight-back. The ruling National Transitional Council (NTC), which ousted him, is also seeking the surrender of Qaddafi’s home town of Sirte.
Qaddafi said tribes in Bani Walid and Sirte were armed and could not be subdued. "We will fight from valley to valley, from mountain to mountain."
Brief headlines outlining Qaddafi’s message were first carried by Al Arabiya television. The Syrian-owned channel Arrai later broadcast a voice message.
"Even if you don’t hear my voice, continue resistance," Qaddafi was quoted as saying in a headline carried by Arrai. "We will not give up. We are not women. We will continue fighting," he was quoted as saying.
Qaddafi said those fighting against him were divided and called on tribes in Tripoli to ambush those against him.
Mystery still surrounds Qaddafi’s whereabouts. Although an NTC commander has said he is in Bani Walid, an Algerian newspaper has reported him to be in the border town of Ghadamis.
"There are those who are afraid that my voice will reach Libyans and are working to disrupt transmissions," Qaddafi was quoted as saying.
