Italian foreign minister: Gadhafi might have fled Tripoli, likely still in Libya

May 13, 2011

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By The Associated Press | The Canadian Press – Fri, 13 May, 2011

ROME - Moammar Gadhafi may have fled Tripoli and at least one Catholic official

in Tripoli reports that the Libyan strongman has been hurt, the Italian foreign

minister said Friday.

Franco Frattini said that Tripoli's bishop has said Gadhafi is " probably

wounded. " Frattini stressed that Italy has " no hard information on the current

fate of Gadhafi. "

Still, " I tend to take as credible the words of the Tripoli Archbishop

(Giovanni) elli who tells us that Gadhafi is very probably outside of

Tripoli and probably also wounded, " the ANSA news agency quoted Frattini as

telling reporters on the sidelines of a conference.

Frattini said " international pressure has likely provoked the decision by

Gadhafi to seek refuge in a safe place. " That comment came during a TV interview

with Corriere della Sera that was posted on the newspaper's website.

" I lean toward the solution of an escape from Tripoli, not an escape from

Libya, " Frattini said. " Libya is a big country, with desert areas. "

elli has been a vocal critic of the NATO bombing campaign against the

Gadhadi regime's forces.

Gadhafi is expected to be among three Libyan officials targeted by arrest

warrants to be issued Monday by the International Criminal Court.

Gadhafi's compound has been a frequent site of NATO-led airstrikes, including an

attack on April 30 where he is believed to have been inside but have escaped

unharmed. Seeking to quell speculation he might have been killed, Libyan state

TV this week showed Gadhafi meeting tribal leaders, apparently in a Tripoli

hotel on Wednesday.

Frattini said he had " many doubts that that footage had been made that day and

especially in Tripoli. "

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