Gaddafi: 'Nuclear Bombs Will Not Make Me Go'

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has vowed to defeat Nato and stay in power in Libya, saying not even nuclear bombs would drive him away.

The alliance is currently carrying out a sustained campaign of air strikes which has lasted months and is aimed at ousting him.

There are almost daily reports of Nato raids in the capital Tripoli and beyond, including hitting the dictator's compound.

The Libyan leader made his latest comments in an audio message to thousands of supporters demonstrating against Nato in Tripoli's Green Square.

In his telephone call, he said: "This is the first time they are facing an armed nation of a millions. They will be defeated, the alliance will be defeated.

"We are in our country and we are determined to stay and defend it ... We are staying, we are staying. Let them even use nuclear bombs."

He also referred to the rebels seeking to overthrow him as "traitors" and "cowards".

Meanwhile, Nato has released video footage showing which is says is of pro-Gaddafi forces hiding in and firing multiple rockets from within a mosque.

The video was taken by a Nato surveillance aircraft on 10 June over the north-western city of Zlitan, 100 miles from Tripoli.

Libya's rebels have been trying to push deeper into government-held territory east of Tripoli, exchanging heavy artillery fire with Col Gadafi's forces near Zlitan.

The city, 100 miles from Tripoli, is the next major town on the Mediterranean coast road to the capital.

Capturing it would be a major advance in the rebels' strategy of surrounding Tripoli and cutting it off from all sides.

Elsewhere, a rebel spokesman said 10 civilians had been killed and another 40 wounded when Col Gaddafi forces shelled the city of Misratah.

The report could not be immediately verified.