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Qaddafi ‘bizarre yet fascinating’: Bildt

Foreign minister Carl Bildt revealed his impressions of Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi at a press conference held Monday, describing him as simultaneously “bizarre” and “fascinating”.

Qaddafi 'bizarre yet fascinating': Bildt

Carl Bildt claimed that he has never met Muammar Qaddafi personally, but has only seen him at a distance.

“My only contact with Mr. Qaddafi was at a 200 metre-distance, in the United Nations’ general assembly, about three or four years ago,” Bildt told the Svenska Dagbladet (SvD) newspaper.

The two men may not have met eye to eye, but the Libyan leader still managed to make an impression on Carl Bildt.

“He held one of the most bizarre speeches I’ve ever heard, and this is coming from a man who’s heard a lot of speeches, both within Sweden and internationally,” said Bildt, revealing that Qaddafi’s speech “went on forever”, and included the Libyan trying to tear up several United Nations’ statutes.

“At the same time, it was fascinating that he had such a position of power in parts of the world, and that he’s treated with respect in several places,” Bildt told the newspaper.

“He was once seen as a popular revolutionary, in the beginning, building up his green socialist revolution, handing out food to his people. But that didn’t quite happen in the end.”

Qaddafi has ruled Libya for 41 years, but his days as leader now seem numbered.

After six months of prolonged struggles between rebel troops and Qaddafi’s own forces, the battle is now entering its final stage as the rebels are approaching Libyan capital Tripoli, encircling it from three directions.

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