A Libyan opposition newspaper Thursday reported that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi put his prime minister and all cabinet members under house arrest at his residence in Tripoli. The newspaper, published in Benghazi, the opposition stronghold, quoted a "reliable source" in Tripoli as saying that Gaddafi has "imposed Secretary of the General People's Committee (Prime Minister) al-Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi and all the Secretaries of the People's Committees (ministers) to house arrest in the Bab al Aziziyah some 3 weeks ago" .
The source added that "their meetings took place inside a building inside Bab al Aziziyah complex," explaining that Gaddafi ordered a large number of security guards to surround the building. According to the source, the ministers "did not get out of Bab al Aziziyah for some 20 days."
The report claims that Gaddafi "has given instructions to the security battalions not give any one of them to get out only by his personal command."
Meanwhile Gaddafi has vowed to retake Benghazi and the rest of the opposition-held east of Libya, offering amnesty to those who surrender but “no mercy” for those who won’t. In an address Thursday evening on state TV, the Libyan leader stated his forces will start the attack on Benghazi, stressing “the matter has been decided ... we are coming.” According to him, his forces will “rescue” the people of Benghazi from “traitors.” “The people will see tomorrow if the city is one of traitors or heroes ... Don’t betray me, my beloved Benghazi.”
