Gaddafi Blames Turmoil on Al-Qaeda

A photograph made available on 24 February 2011, shows Libyans performing prayers as they are gathered in a protest on the seaside in Benghazi, Libya, 21 February 2011.

Libya's embattled strongman Muammar Gaddafi has told state TV that Osama Bin Laden and his followers are to blame for the ongoing protests against his regime.

Bin Laden is an enemy, who manipulates the people of Libya, according to the dictator. "Do not succumb to Bin Laden," he appealed in a phone call from the town of al-Zawiya played live on a state TV channel,

Young people are being duped with drugs and alcohol to take part in "destruction and sabotage", according to Gaddafi.

"No one above the age of 20 would actually take part in these events," he said, as cited by Al Jazeera. "They are taking advantage of the young age of these people to commit violent acts because they are not legally liable."

The leader warned that those behind the unrest would be prosecuted in the country's courts.

Earlier on Thursday, a North African wing of al-Qaeda has issued a statement that it backs the Libyan protests against leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The statement by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) was posted Thursday and it said that the group "will do whatever we can to help," CNN reported, citing "SITE", a terrorist-tracking organization based outside of Washington.

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