FIGHT TO GO ON. In this image grab from the Syria-based Arrai Arabic-language satellite channel, a still portrait of Seif al-Islam, son of fallen Libyan dictator Moamer Gadhafi, is broadcast along with an audio message on Aug. 31, 2011 in which he said he was still in Tripoli and the fight against rebels and "their mercenaries" goes on, promising a near "victory." AFP
TRIPOLI 鈥� World leaders were to meet in Paris on Thursday to plot Libya鈥檚 post-Gadhafi future as one of the fugitive dictator鈥檚 sons pledged that loyalists would fight their rebel enemies to the death.
The message of defiance punctured a festive mood in Tripoli at the end of Ramadan but the announced capture of Gadhafi鈥檚 foreign minister Abdelati al-Obeidi gave succour to those seeking to consign the regime to history.
There has been no firm word on Gadhafi鈥檚 whereabouts since he appeared on television 11 days ago, although there is much speculation that he is holed up in either his stronghold of Sirte, the desert, or in a suburb near the capital.
Thursday鈥檚 conference in the French capital, which will be attended by delegates from 60 countries, is expected to discuss funding for Libya as well as police training and diplomatic recognition for its new rulers.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be in Paris to sound out the rebels on what officials in Washington describe as their 鈥渆normous鈥� needs as they try to establish a new government in Tripoli.
The 鈥渃redibility鈥� of the National Transitional Council (NTC), the political umbrella for the rebels, rests on such achievements, a senior US official told reporters on condition of anonymity on Wednesday.
The NTC is recognised by the United States and dozens of other countries as Libya鈥檚 interim governing authority, but how well the rebels can bring security to Tripoli and deal with running a country remain in doubt.
Urgent needs in Tripoli 鈥� where Gadhafi forces were overrun in fierce battles more than a week ago 鈥� are water, food, gasoline and electricity, officials say.
鈥淭he needs are enormous. Gadhafi has left them鈥� with a shattered country,鈥� the US official said. How to deal with Gadhafi if he is finally captured following a six-month revolt is also a worry for world leaders.
Mustafa Abdel Jalil, chief of the NTC said in an interview published on Wednesday by Egypt鈥檚 state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper he wanted Gadhafi arrested alive so he could face justice.
Clinton鈥檚 participation in what has been dubbed the 鈥淔riends of Libya鈥� conference comes as the rebels try to wipe out the last pockets of resistance from Gadhafi fighters.
The dictator鈥檚 best known son, Seif al-Islam, who has rapidly become his father鈥檚 most visible defender, told the Damascus-based Al-Rai television station in an audio message aired Wednesday that there would be no surrender.
鈥淭he leadership is fine and the leader is fine,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 am talking to you from a suburb of Tripoli. We want to reassure the Libyan people that we are still here. The resistance continues and victory is near.鈥�
Seif al-Islam warned the rebels against any attack on his father鈥檚 hometown of Sirte, the last major centre in loyalist hands.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e welcome if they think the battle of Sirte will be a walkover. Twenty thousand armed men are in the town and ready,鈥� to fight, he told Al-Rai.
However, another much less powerful Gadhafi son, Saadi, appeared to express a readiness to surrender as the rebels said they had captured Gadhafi鈥檚 foreign minister, although few details were given.
鈥淵es, Abdelati al-Obeidi was arrested today,鈥� Mahdi al-Harati, vice chairman of the rebel military council, told journalists in the capital on Wednesday, without elaborating.
But Harati did confirm that negotiations had been opened on the surrender of Saadi.
鈥淗e is reluctant but, if he wants to surrender, his life will be safe, God willing. If there is an agreement, there will be no problems.鈥�
Earlier, Saadi Kadhafi told the Al-Arabiya channel in an audio interview that he had 鈥渘o problem鈥� with the rebels ruling Libya.
鈥淚f my surrender stops the spilling of blood, I am ready to give myself up tonight,鈥� he said.
Rebel military spokesman Colonel Ahmed Omar Bani has said his forces are 鈥渞eady for a final military battle,鈥� describing Saturday as 鈥渮ero hour.鈥�