News / Africa
Gaddafi's regime is in the process of collapse: Ex-army colonel
13 Aug 2011 at 15:39hrs | Views
Misrata - An imprisoned Libyan army colonel who surrendered to the rebel forces two months ago told AFP on Saturday that Muammar Gaddafi's regime is riven with division and in the process of collapse.
Speaking from a prisoner-of-war camp in the rebel enclave of Misrata, Colonel Wissam Miland said Gaddafi's military hangs together through coercion and mercenary-enforced martial law, but that infighting is rife.
"I think it will soon collapse," he said, offering a rare glimpse inside Gaddafi's three-pronged loyalist force, made of up army regulars, militia fighters and mercenaries.
"Among the militias, the Libyan soldiers were starting to fight with the foreign mercenaries, there are many problems," he said in an interview.
"Gaddafi is losing now because of this," he said, pointing to a series of recent military losses suffered by the regime.
The prospect of mounting divisions among Gaddafi's fighters will be an encouraging sign for many Nato countries, which have warned that there can be no clear-cut military solution to Libya's nearly six-month-old civil war.
Speaking from a prisoner-of-war camp in the rebel enclave of Misrata, Colonel Wissam Miland said Gaddafi's military hangs together through coercion and mercenary-enforced martial law, but that infighting is rife.
"I think it will soon collapse," he said, offering a rare glimpse inside Gaddafi's three-pronged loyalist force, made of up army regulars, militia fighters and mercenaries.
"Gaddafi is losing now because of this," he said, pointing to a series of recent military losses suffered by the regime.
The prospect of mounting divisions among Gaddafi's fighters will be an encouraging sign for many Nato countries, which have warned that there can be no clear-cut military solution to Libya's nearly six-month-old civil war.
Source - AFP
