Gaddafi warns revolution enemies

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Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has urged supporters to kill those trying to reverse the gains of his revolution, on the 37th anniversary of his coup.

In a speech to mark the anniversary, Col Gaddafi said those who wanted to change what he called Libya's direct democracy were ignorant and immature.

The tone of the speech is in sharp contrast to recent comments by Col Gadaffi's son, Seif al-Islam.

He is widely seen as a possible successor to the Libyan leader.

Green Revolution

The anniversary of the Libyan revolution falls on 1 September, the day in 1969 when as a 27-year-old British trained junior officer, Muammar Gaddafi overthrew the pro-Western Libyan monarchy and began what became known as the Green Revolution.

Thanks God - our revolution has won... Our enemies have been crushed inside Libya and you have to be ready to kill them if they emerge anew Col Gaddafi

Nearly four decades on, Colonel Gaddafi gave his two-hour televised speech saying that revolution - which in effect gives him absolute power in Libya - was still alive and well, and those who were trying to change it should be killed.

They were ignorant and immature, he said, and if the enemy showed his head, he should be finished off.

'End of revolution'

This message is the exact reverse of the one given in another speech just 10 days ago on Libyan television by Seif al-Islam Gaddafi.

Seif al-Islam Gaddafi called for an end to the revolutionary era, saying it had not brought people-power to Libya.

It is unclear to what extent this marks a rift between father and son that could have political consequences for the Libyans, or whether it is an example of Colonel Gaddafi's penchant for bluster and bravado that is part of his unpredictable nature.