NATO leader rejects Gadhafi’s threat to Italy, reaffirms Libya mission

Tripoli, Libya (CNN) — The head of NATO on Saturday rebuffed Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s latest diatribe — which included threats to Italy and criticism of the coalition and the United Nations — insisting that the mission to target his forces will continue as long as civilians remain under fire.

During an address early Saturday, Gadhafi called for negotiations at the same time he launched a tirade against NATO and the U.N., even threatening to move the battleground across Italy.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen responded later Saturday by reaffirming his coalition’s devotion to its mission while “reject(ing) any threat against Italy or any other ally.”

“The Gadhafi regime continues to cause widespread suffering through its attacks on the Libyan population. Quite simply, this must stop,” Rasmussen said in a statement. “NATO remains firm — we will continue our operation until the threat to the civilian population of Libya is removed.”

The airstrikes started after the U.N. Security Council approved a resolution authorizing any means necessary to protect civilians demanding the ouster of the ruler, who has been in power for nearly 42 years.

From the time NATO began its operation on March 31, the organization had conducted 4,398 sorties, of which 1,821 were strike sorties, according to an update issued Saturday. Facilities in or around Tripoli, Zintan, al-Brega and Sirte were targeted on Friday, it said.

Gadhafi’s televised address was a rare appearance for the leader, who has not been seen in public since international forces began bombing regime targets last month.

During his rambling 45-minute speech, he urged NATO to negotiate an end to airstrikes, accusing the international coalition of killing civilians and destroying the nation’s infrastructure in a bid to take over its oil production.

“Come and negotiate with us. You are the ones attacking us. You are the ones terrifying our kids and destroying our infrastructure. You American, French and British come and negotiate with us,” Gadhafi said on Libyan state TV.

The Libyan leader remained defiant, as he sharply criticized those behind the attacks and questioned their intent.

“What are you trying to do? Trying to take the oil?” he said. “The Libyan people will not allow you … The oil is under control of the Libyan government and for the people.”

He called on the United Nations to review the NATO attacks, saying his country agreed to a cease-fire.

“We are the first ones who wanted and agreed on a cease-fire. But the NATO crusader airstrike did not cease,” he said. “It cannot be a cease-fire from one side.”

But shortly after the speech, a NATO spokeswoman called for actions, not words, in expressing skepticism the Libyan leader could be trusted to follow through on his pledges.

“The regime has announced cease-fires several times before and continued attacking cities and civilians,” NATO deputy spokeswoman Carmen Romero said in a statement.

“Just hours before Col. Gadhafi spoke of a truce, his forces indiscriminately shelled Misrata, killing many people, including children. His forces tried to mine the port to block the access of humanitarian aid to the beleaguered civilians of Misrata. All this has to stop, and it has to stop now.”

A spokesman for the Libyan opposition accused Gadhafi of lying and trying to play both sides.

“He’s playing both parts. He’s buying time at the same time projecting himself as somebody who’s trying to find a solution to this problem, while the reality on the ground is he is the one who’s seeking to kill and carry out all kind of crimes against the Libyan people,” said Jalal al Gallal.

“The man has no credibility anymore,” he added.

Gadhafi took to the airwaves after his government threatened to sink any ship approaching the besieged port city of Misrata. The declaration essentially threatens NATO patrols and humanitarian aid ships that have been bringing in food and medical supplies, and ferrying out refugees and the wounded.

The government threat came shortly after NATO said it intercepted government forces laying mines in Misrata’s harbor, which has been a lifeline for humanitarian aid.

It also came as Gadhafi’s forces were shelling Misrata in an attempt to re-enter the city after being pushed out by rebels. Misrata, the country’s third-largest city, has been hemmed in on three sides for weeks by Gadhafi’s forces, leaving the sea as the only escape route.

At least nine people were killed and 30 more wounded in Friday’s attacks in Misrata, said a doctor, who is a member of the medical committee in the city.

“There is an indiscriminate shelling now in Misrata,” said the doctor, who asked not to be identified because he feared retribution by Gadhafi’s forces.

Meanwhile, Libyan state TV announced that the military had successfully suppressed operations of the port.

“We will not allow any ship to dock at the port without being inspected by the Libyan government,” said Musa Ibrahim, a government spokesman.

He said any aid to Misrata must be delivered through designated land routes.

Opposition spokesman al Gallal said reports of a government takeover of the port were untrue and that rebels are still in control of operations there.

CNN’s Frederik Pleitgen, Kareem Khadder and Saad Abedine contributed to this report.