By IANS/RIA Novsoti,
Moscow: Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi fears that Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden can take control of Libya, making it “the second Afghanistan”.
“Al Qaeda will establish jihad in Northern Africa and the West will have to oppose the dangerous challenges, triggering a new crusade,” Gaddafi told ‘Russia Today’ (RT) satellite TV channel Thursday.
Gaddafi has already blamed the unrest on Al Qaeda and Bin Laden, who, he said, were seeking to turn Libya into a state resembling Afghanistan or Somalia.
Al Qaeda was spreading fake reports about thousands of people being killed, though the number of victims in Libyan clashes did not exceed 150-200, the Libyan leader said.
The ongoing clashes between Libyan rebels and Gaddafi supporters have been raging in the country since mid-February.
International organisations estimate the number of victims has reached 6,000.
Gaddafi said the West was not interested in orchestrating mass disturbances in Libya since the North African state had large investments in Europe.