Muammar Gaddafi calls for World to unite against West

Muammar Gaddafi has called for the world to unite against the West's "mad aggression".

The Libyan leader also warned, in a speech that was broadcast on state television, that he will arm civilians with weapons to defend Libya from, what he called, the "colonial, crusader".

He said: "It is now necessary to open the stores and arm all the masses with all types of weapons to defend the independence, unity and honour of Libya.

"We call on the peoples and citizens of the Arab and Islamic nations, Latin America, Asia and Africa to stand by the heroic Libyan people to confront this aggression, which will only increase the Libyan people's strength, firmness and unity."

He also said the Mediterranean and North Africa were now a battleground, and that the interests of countries in the region would be in danger from now on. (Source)