dailymail.co.uk | Colonel Gaddafi was preparing last night for a blood-soaked final stand in Tripoli.
Thousands of hired fighters were massing on roads from the capital to join army units battling the uprising which had spread to within 30 miles of the dictator’s stronghold.
Fighting raged as Gaddafi made an extraordinary rambling speech on TV in which he compared himself to the Queen and blamed the revolt on Osama Bin Laden.
He claimed the protesters who have seized control of much of the east of the country he has ruled for 41 years were fuelled by milk and Nescafe spiked with hallucinogenic drugs.
In a bizarre message to protesters, he said: ‘You need to listen to your parents. If people disobey their parents they end up destroying the country.
‘The same as in Britain (where) for 57 years the Queen has been ruling. I have been in the same situation.’
He went on: ‘Bin Laden ... this is the enemy who is manipulating the people. Do not be swayed by Bin Laden.’
Yesterday an unsubstantiated rumour that Gaddafi had been shot swept the oil markets.
CNBC reported the rumour this afternoon, claiming it was partially responsible for driving oil prices back down to $97 a barrel.
Oil had hit a high of $120 a barrel late yesterday afternoon, but settled at $97 on the rumour and on Saudi Arabia's claim that it can counter any supply disruptions from Libya.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1360343/Libya-Gaddafi-blames-Osama-bin-Laden-hallucinogenic-pills-Nescafe-uprising.html#ixzz1Fd77bcXt