HIGHLIGHTS-Libya's Gaddafi says protesters are on drugs

Thu Feb 24, 2011 4:32pm GMT

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CAIRO Feb 24 (Reuters) - Muammar Gaddafi blamed a revolt against his rule on al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden on Thursday and said protesters were fuelled by milk and Nescafe spiked with hallucinogenic drugs, in a rambling appeal for calm. Here are some excerpts of his telephone interview with Libyan state television:

ON PROTESTERS

"Their ages are 17. They give them pills at night they put hallucinatory pills in their drinks, their milk, their coffee their Nescafe."

"They are criminals ... is it logical that you let this phenomenon continue in any city? ... We do not see what is happening in Egypt and Tunisia happening in Libya, ever!"

ON HIS AUTHORITY

"Those (in Egypt and Tunisia) are people needing their governments and they have demands, our power is in the hands of the people."

"From a national, moral, ethical standpoint .. they should stop. I have no authority coming from laws or decisions or anything else, I just have moral authority. I only have moral authority. I am like the Queen of England. I have jurisdictions." Continued...

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