Gaddafi will 'attack the homes of Europe'

A DEFIANT Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi last night vowed to carry out attacks in Europe against "homes, offices, families," unless Nato halts its campaign of airstrikes against his regime in Libya.

Col Gaddafi, sought by the International Criminal Court for brutally crushing the uprising against him, delivered the warning in an audio message played to thousands of supporters gathered in the main square of the capital Tripoli.

Addressing the West, Gaddafi said Libyans might take revenge.

"These people (the Libyans) are able to one day take this battle… to Europe, to target your homes, offices, families, which would become legitimate military targets, like you have targeted our homes," he said.

"We can decide to treat you in a similar way," he said of the Europeans. "If we decide to, we are able to move to Europe like locusts, like bees. We advise you to retreat before you are dealt a disaster."

It was one of the largest pro-government rallies in recent weeks and came just days after the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Col Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam and Libyan intelligence chief Abdullah al-Sanoussi for crimes against humanity. International prosecutors allege government troops fired on civilian protesters during anti-Gaddafi street demonstrations earlier this year.

Anti-government rebels control much of eastern Libyan and parts of Libya's western mountains. Nato has been bombing government-linked targets since March.

In his speech yesterday, Gaddafi denounced the rebels as traitors and blamed them for Libya's troubles. He said Libyans who fled to neighbouring Tunisia are now "working as maids for the Tunisians".