Gadhafi urges supporters to end ‘masquerade’ rebellion

TRIPOLI – Libya’s embattled strongman Moammar Gadhafi on Sunday urged his supporters to “march by the millions” and end a months-long rebellion which he termed a “masquerade.

“We have to put an end to this masquerade. You must march by the millions to free the destroyed towns” controlled by the rebels,” he said in a message on state television.

Rebels have closed in on Tripoli, Gadhafi’s bastion, by claiming a third key city in 24 hours on Saturday and predicted his 42-year-old rule was on its last legs.

“We have contacts with people from the inner circle of Gadhafi,” said Mustafa Abdel Jalil, the chairman of the rebel National Transitional Council (NTC). “All evidence (shows) that the end is very near, with God’s grace.”

“I expect a catastrophic end for him and his inner circle, and I expect that he will a create a situation within Tripoli. I hope my expectation is wrong,” Abdel Jalil said.