Global General

Libyan government distributes weapons to people

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-20 23:00

TRIPOLI - The Libyan government has begun to distribute weapons to common people after an attack on the North African country by the joint forces of several Western nations Saturday, a Xinhua reporter said on Sunday.

Also in a recorded speech on TV on Sunday, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said that the oil of his country will not be left to the countries like the United States, France, Britain and their allies.

The arms were available to all the Libyans and they will be armed, he added.

This is the second time that Gaddafi spoke to the nation after the attack.

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Shortly after the multinational military intervention, Gaddafi, in a televised speech, urged Libyans to "fight against aggression, " saying he would open the arms depots to equip civilians so as to defend the country's independence, territorial integrity and glory.

The joint forces of several Western nations on Saturday launched an attack on Libya, a move that will complicate an already turbulent situation in the North African country.

French warplanes had been taking the lead in the airstrikes, which came after the UN Security Council imposed a no-fly zone over Libya.

At least 64 people were killed and 150 others wounded following the   military operation against Libyan leader Gaddafi.

The western coalition claimed they launched the assault for humanitarian interests. But many analysts and media believed they did it for the sake of their own goals and interests instead of the safety and welfare of the unarmed Libyan civilians as they have claimed.