Gaddafi scorns rebel 'rats', blames France

RABAT: Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi congratulated his supporters for repelling an attack by rebel "rats" in the capital Tripoli, and accused French President Nicolas Sarkozy of trying to steal the country's oil.

Gaddafi made the remarks in a live audio broadcast overstate television early on Sunday, adding the rebels were "bent on the destruction of the Libyan people."(Reuters)