In major propaganda blow to Gaddafi regime's, several of the country's major sports stars publicly switch ranks to join rebellion.
By REUTERSLibyan rebels 311(photo credit: REUTERS)
LONDON - Four members of Libya's national football team and 13 other Libyan football figures have defected to rebels, in a propaganda blow to Muammar Gaddafi, the BBC reported on Saturday.It said national goalkeeper Juma Gtat and Adel bin Issa, the coach of Tripoli's top club al-Ahly, announced the defections in the rebel-held Nafusa Mountains in western Libya.RELATED:Rebels: Gaddafi could stay in Libya as part of settlementLibyan UN ambassador: Gaddafi seeking asylum"I am telling Colonel Gaddafi to leave us alone and allow us to create a free Libya," the BBC quoted Gtat as saying at a hotel in the town of Jadu. "In fact I wish he would leave this life altogether."Click for full Jpost coverage of turmoil in the Middle EastGaddafi has suffered a series of defections by military officers, diplomats and members of his government, but has resisted efforts by rebels backed by a NATO bombing campaign to dislodge him after four decades in power.Bin Issa told the BBC he had chosen to come to the Western Mountains "to send a message that Libya should be unified and free", adding: "I hope to wake up one morning to find that Gaddafi is no longer there."
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