"Gaddafi could seek asylum in Serbia or Croatia"

Libyan Transitional National Council member Fatima Mahmoud has said that Muammar Gaddafi could seek asylum in Chad, Algeria, Venezuela, Croatia or Serbia. She told Zagreb-based daily Vecernji list that Gaddafi was still in Libya but that he had left Tripoli. "Gaddafi could seek asylum in Serbia or Croatia" “We have information that he could seek asylum in five countries he has good relations with today, unless he gets caught or killed,” Mahmoud stressed, adding that those countries were Chad, Algeria, Venezuela, Croatia and Serbia. “It is well known that those countries, their official governments or powerful politicians communicate with him and give him advice even today. It is known that he has very good relations with Serbia and former Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, who offered him help in the name of their great friendship,” she was quoted as saying. Mahmoud claims that there had been “many mercenaries and military experts from African countries, but also from the former Yugoslavia, especially from Croatia and Serbia” among Gaddafi’s forces. The rebels said on Wednesday night that they had captured five Serbians suspected of being Gaddafi’s snipers. A file photo of Boris Tadic and Muammar Gaddafi Libyans fear civil war may break out The Libyan Transitional National Council member fears that a civil war could break out after Gaddafi’s fall, bearing in mind that there are many Islamists who follow Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden’s ideology among the rebels. The Croatian daily also quoted Libyan rebel leader Muhammad Abu Aisha who said that Tripoli was free and that life was returning to normal in some part of the Libyan capital. He added that more than 500 people were killed and several thousands wounded on both sides. “We don’t have time to bury the dead, there are so many of them,” he stressed, adding that Gaddafi’s forces were still strong in southern parts of the country near borders with Chad and Sudan and that the rebel forces had seized Gaddafi’s private jet that had been “full of money and gold”.

"Gaddafi could seek asylum in Serbia or Croatia"

“We have information that he could seek asylum in five countries he has good relations with today, unless he gets caught or killed,” Mahmoud stressed, adding that those countries were Chad, Algeria, Venezuela, Croatia and Serbia.

“It is well known that those countries, their official governments or powerful politicians communicate with him and give him advice even today. It is known that he has very good relations with Serbia and former Croatian President Stjepan Mesić, who offered him help in the name of their great friendship,” she was quoted as saying.

Mahmoud claims that there had been “many mercenaries and military experts from African countries, but also from the former Yugoslavia, especially from Croatia and Serbia” among Gaddafi’s forces.

The rebels said on Wednesday night that they had captured five Serbians suspected of being Gaddafi’s snipers.

Libyans fear civil war may break out

The Libyan Transitional National Council member fears that a civil war could break out after Gaddafi’s fall, bearing in mind that there are many Islamists who follow Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden’s ideology among the rebels.

The Croatian daily also quoted Libyan rebel leader Muhammad Abu Aisha who said that Tripoli was free and that life was returning to normal in some part of the Libyan capital. He added that more than 500 people were killed and several thousands wounded on both sides.

“We don’t have time to bury the dead, there are so many of them,” he stressed, adding that Gaddafi’s forces were still strong in southern parts of the country near borders with Chad and Sudan and that the rebel forces had seized Gaddafi’s private jet that had been “full of money and gold”.