Gaddafi calls on Libyans to fight colonialism

TRIPOLI, Sept 1.—In a new communiqué, Libyan leader Muammar al Gaddafi today exhorted his people to continue fighting and to keep up their resistance, "even though they cannot hear my voice," Telesur reports.

The "friends" of Libya met in Paris today to discuss a future without Gaddafi.

"Tripoli must continue with its resistance, do away with colonialism and with those who are behind all this. I call on the tribes to fight, they are millions of people, fight, you are many, you are in the best position to do so," stated Gaddafi, according to the Al Arabiya television network, based in Saudi Arabia.

"They have cut off communications because they know these are dangerous, as you can hear my voice and that of the Libyan people," he said.

"In this struggle, the triumph belongs to the Libyans; this was the plan: to take control of Libya, of its dignity with their weapons, they want to steal our oil and take it to France, but we will not surrender to the traitors," he declared.

The summit for the "reconstruction and future of Libya" took place in Paris today, with 60 countries and international organizations and a representation of the National Transition Council (NTC) in attendance.

During the meeting, French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced that NATO military operations in Libya will continue "as long as Gaddafi is a threat" to the country, and British Prime Minister David Cameron expressed his pride in the achievements of the allied forces in Libya.

Also present at the Elysée Palace were German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Zhai Jun, and Russian Senator Mikhail Marguelov, whose country today recognized the NTC as the legitimate Libyan authority, according to EFE.

The European Union (EU) has lifted the sanctions imposed on 28 Libyan oil, banking and port enterprises, in order to "help the NTC to restore" the country’s economy, stated EU High Representative Catherine Ashton.

Meanwhile, humanitarian organizations have denounced an "ethnic cleansing" on the part of the Libyan rebels who, in the last few days, have embarked on a "witch hunt" of people of Sub-Saharan origin living in Libya.