Dead or Alive: Libya Businessmen Offer Reward for Gadhafi's Capture

The backlash against Moammar Gadhafi has increased around the world as rebels and loyalists continue to clash in Tripoli.

Although rebels are now in control of his Bab Al-Aziziya compound, Gadhafi's location is still a mystery. To expedite the colonel's arrest, a group of businessmen in Libya are now offering a reward of two million dinars, roughly $1.5 million, for the capture of the Libyan dictator.

The National Transitional Council [NTC] supports the initiative of businessmen who are offering two million dinars for the capture of Moammar Gadhafi, dead or alive, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, chairman of the organization said.

The NTC represents the rebel government. It has been recognized as the official representative of the Libyan people by a number of nations, including the United States, France and Italy. Venezuela's Hugo Chavez refuses to acknowledged the group, however, and Russia has been slow to show its support for the rebels.

In addition to the cash reward, Jalil and the NTC are offering immunity to any Gadhafi loyalist who can deliver their leader, either dead of alive.

Meanwhile, Libyan embassies around the world are displaying their animosity toward Gadhafi, destroying photos and burning portraits of the leader that hang inside buildings. In London, the embassy put out a doormat with Gadhafi's image on it outside, allowing people to step on the Colonel's face.

Speculation still swirls concerning the whereabouts of the once untouchable Libyan chieftain. Many suggest that he is hiding in Sirte, the city of his birth, which has become a stronghold for his troops over the past week. At around 2 p.m. local time, rebels were about 35 miles away from the city, but facing harsh resistance.

Gadhafi's forces are still fighting, we are surprised. We thought they would surrender with the fall of Tripoli, rebel commander Fawzi Bukatif told the Agence France Presse.

It seems they will not surrender but we want to save the town and keep it as good as possible. We are trying to get free access to Sirte to establish a security committee there so our forces can guarantee that everything is in order. It is a question of time.

Other rebels thinks that Gadhafi is trying to make an escape by plane. Fighting for control of the Tripoli International Airport has intensified. The area is currently controlled by rebels, but it has been hit by a barrage of missiles, leading commanders to believe that loyalists are trying to clear a path for Gadhafi's exit.

Gadhafi has said on a number of occasions that he will die before leaving Libya. In a radio address Wednesday, he said that the civil war would end with either his victory or his martyrdom.