Following are excerpts from an address delivered by Abdessalam Jalloud, former Libyan prime minister and Libyan leader Mu'ammar Al-Qadhafi's former comrade, who recently defected and joined the rebels. The address was broadcast by Al-Jazeera TV on August 21, 2011.
Abdessalam Jalloud: "Allah be praised, Allah be praised, Allah be praised, Allah be praised. Oh Libyan people, the Libyans were dead, and they've been resurrected by the youth of February 17. The Indian philosopher Tagore used to say the enemy of the peoples is not hunger, poverty, disease, or ignorance. The enemy of the peoples is fear. The youth of February 17, and the Libyan people behind them, have overcome fear. They have trampled fear underfoot. [...]
"Describing this sick individual [Qadhafi] as a tyrant and a Pharaoh does not begin to describe his true character – his bloodthirsty character and Machiavellian nature, his deceitfulness, and the heinous nature of his crimes.
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"This tyrant is the last one who has the right to talk about patriotism or religion. Patriotism and religion have nothing whatsoever to do with him. He is the last one who has the right to talk about treason, because he has betrayed the people, the revolution, Islam, and pan-Arabism.
"The revolutionaries of Libya are not revolutionaries of NATO, as this tyrant, this modern-day false prophet, has said. They are revolutionaries of Allah, revolutionaries of Allah.
"This tyrant is the last one who has the right to talk about Crusades, since on various occasions he invited America and the West to come to Libya and do as they please with its oil and its people, so that he could secure his throne. He is throne-sick. Without his throne he is nothing. [...]
"I am telling you that the tyrant's forces have been destroyed. All he has left is a bunch of volunteers, whom he buys with a car and 5,000 dinars each. This tyrant talks about Al-Qaeda and about gangs. You know me. Is it conceivable that I would join Al-Qaeda or gangs?! [...]
"I see the remnants of [Qadhafi's] army fighting on behalf of a regime that has come to an end, collapsed. This regime has met a cot death.
"You must take advantage of the last hours and minutes to jump from the ship of betrayal and tyranny to the ship of the people. You have only moments or hours left. The decisive moment has arrived, Allah willing. [...]
"I ask the remnants of the army to turn in their weapons and go home, or to join the revolution, the mujahideen. This is your only choice." [...]
