Cairo – The son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said the government would prevail over rebels trying to oust his father and a new constitution was ready for when the insurgency was defeated, Al Arabiya TV reported on Wednesday.
The Dubai-based satellite channel said Saif al-Islam, speaking on Libyan state television, accused the Benghazi-based rebel national council as being motivated by “power and oil wealth”.
“Libya will not go back to what it was. The era of the first Jamahiriya (people’s republic) is gone and a new draft constitution has been prepared,” Al Arabiya quoted Saif al-Islam as saying.
Saif al-Islam has the highest profile among Gaddafi’s sons although, like his father, he has no official government position.
The rebels have been trying since mid-February to end Gaddafi’s 41-year-old rule but have struggled against his more experienced and better equipped forces.
Despite NATO air strikes mandated under a UN Security Council resolution to protect civilians, they have made little advance towards Gaddafi’s stronghold of Tripoli.
Saif al-Islam said the situation was changing in favour of the Libyan system, Al Arabiya reported adding that his father “will prevail” against the rebels.
Misrata under mortars attacks ; West talks of tougher action
Moreso the Libyan government troops pounded the besieged rebel-held city of Misrata overnight, undeterred by Western threats to step up military action against Muammar Gaddafi’s forces.
Mortar fire killed at least three rebel fighters and wounded 17 in the latest attacks on Tripoli Street, rebel spokesmen said.
Libya’s third largest city, the only rebel stronghold in the West of the country, has been under a punishing siege by forces loyal to Gaddafi for seven weeks.
Hundreds of people are reported to have died.
Among the casualties on Wednesday were British and American photojournalists and a Ukrainian doctor.
Rebels say Gaddafi’s forces, including snipers, are deliberately attacking civilians, an accusation denied by Tripoli.
Libyan state television said early on Thursday NATO forces had struck the Khallat al-Farjan area of the capital Tripoli, killing seven people and wounding 18 others.
The report could not immediately be independently verified.
Canadian Lieut.-Gen. Charles Bouchard, commander of NATO’s Libya operations, said on Wednesday civilians should keep away from Gaddafi’s forces to avoid being hurt by NATO air attacks on government troops.
“Civilians can assist NATO by distancing themselves from Gaddafi regime forces and equipment whenever possible. Doing this will allow NATO to strike those forces and equipment with greater success,” he said in a statement.
Rebel fighters voiced frustration with an international military operation they see as too cautious.
“NATO has been inefficient in Misrata. NATO has completely failed to change things on the ground,” rebel spokesman Abdelsalam said.
France said it would send up to 10 military advisers to Libya.
Britain plans to dispatch up to a dozen officers to help rebels improve organisation and communications.
Neither country plans to arm or train insurgents to fight.
Sarkozy