Canada: Gaddafi to destroy refineries on withdrawal

July 15, 2011

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By Randall Palmer | Reuters – 16 hours ago

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has ordered his troops to blow

up refineries and other facilities if they have to retreat, the Canadian head of

the NATO mission over Libya said on Thursday.

Lieutenant General Bouchard said he was unable to confirm any plan by

Gaddafi to demolish the capital Tripoli if the rebels captured it, as reported

by Russian envoy Mikhail Margelov in the Russian newspaper Izvestia.

" However, I can report that the Gaddafi regime has given direction to its forces

to destroy certain facilities as they withdraw back, such as fuel refineries and

other aspects, " he told Canadian-based reporters in a call from Italy, where

NATO's Libyan operation is based.

He added the caveat: " Just because Gaddafi has given a direction does not mean

that direction is being undertaken by his own troops. We've seen a fair bit of

his troops, of his generals, surrendering, of his troops abandoning their

posts. "

He said he did not know of any plan of the magnitude of demolishing government

buildings and infrastructure in Tripoli.

On the same call, Canadian Defense Minister MacKay said Libya was a test

for the NATO alliance.

" It's a conflict that is going to require a determined, persistent, unified

approach. Those are all watchwords when it comes to how NATO will continue with

its effort, " he said.

(Reporting by Randall Palmer; Editing by Vicki )

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