Gadhafi Family Members Cross Into Algeria

The state-controlled news agency of Algeria reported that members of the family of Moammar Gadhafi have entered the country on Monday, citing information from the Algerian Foreign Affairs Ministry.

According to Algérie Presse Service, the refugees include Gadhafi's wife Sofia, his daughter Aisha, and two sons, Hannibal and Mohammad, with their wives and children.

It is not clear if Moammar Gadhafi himself was part of the group or not.

Algeria’s Foreign Minister Amar Belan said his country has maintained a policy of “strict neutrality” with regard to Libya and respects “the decision of every person under its sovereignty.” He added that Algeria has no plans to “interfere in any manner whatsoever in the internal affairs” of Libya.

However, Gadhafi’s chief spokesman Moussa Ibrahim told Associated Press that the colonel is still in Libya, but decline to say where exactly.

Meanwhile, the head of the rebel group, the National Transitional Council (NTC), Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, told senior NATO officials in Qatar that Gadhafi, still poses a danger.

Gadhafi is still capable of doing something awful in the last moments, Abdul-Jalil said.

Even after the fighting ends, we still need logistical and military support from NATO.

Libyan rebels have apparently gained control of the capitol city of Tripoli (a former Gadhafi stronghold) and are now approaching the city of Sirte, 250 miles east of Tripoli and Gadhafi’s hometown, which is believed to be a haven for regime loyalists.
There was some speculation that Gadhafi may be holed up there.

Rebels claim that they do not want to kill Gadhafi – instead they want to capture him alive so he can face trial for a multitude of crimes.

We hope that Gadhafi is still in Libya so we can rid the world of this insect, rebel military spokesman Ahmed Bani said. The only way to treat this pest is to make him accountable for the crimes in Libya.

According to NATO, fighting between rebels and Gadhafi forces are also taking place in the regions of Sirte, Bani Walid south of Misrata and Sebha further south.