MOSCOW. June 14 (Interfax) - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has said that his physical removal will lead to a protracted civil war and a break-up of the country.
"Gaddafi believes that his physical removal or a NATO ground operation in Libya will only lead to a protracted civil war and split Libya into the east and west," President of the FIDE (World Chess Federation) Kirsan Ilyumzhinov told Interfax on Tuesday, citing his conversation with Gaddafi in Tripoli.
"The western part of the country, says Gaddafi, will not forgive the east that they have brought NATO to the Libyan land, will not forgive the numerous victims of bombardments," the FIDE president said.
"Gaddafi also believes that his figure is some sort of a link between the multiple tribes. And his physical removal by the North Atlantic alliance will only provoke a years-long civil war," Ilyumzhinov said.
"Gaddafi said mercenaries from Iraq and Egypt, some of whom have been captured, are fighting on the side of the rebels," he said.
"I am not giving any political assessment, I am just conveying the content of my meeting with Gaddafi," Ilyumzhinov said.