£1m bounty put on Gaddafi – ‘dead or alive’

Businessmen put up the bounty of two million Libyan dinars as rebel fighters continued their advance through the capital, Tripoli, and the resistance of the Gaddafi regime appeared to weaken.

The move was supported by the leader of the rebel Transitional National Council, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, who also offered amnesty to “members of (Gaddafi’s) close circle who kill him or capture him”. Gaddafi’s whereabouts remained unknown last night. He claimed he had fled his compound in Tripoli, now in the hands of rebels, as a “tactical” move, adding that he was not in danger.

But, with an apparent offer of asylum by Nicaragua, there were signs last night he was losing the support of some of his closest allies, including former foreign minister Abdul Ati al-Obeidi, who said the regime had come to an end.

A “friends of Libya” conference has been organised by Britain and France, scheduled for next week in Paris, involving countries which have taken part in the campaign against Gaddafi, along with China, Russia, India and Brazil, to discuss rebuilding the country.

Mr Hague said the Libyan people had rejected the regime and Gaddafi should stop issuing delusional statements. “He should be telling his dwindling remaining forces now to stand down.”