Gaddafi recruits novice soldiers to defend him

Now,Refat is patrolling the rebellious neighbourhood of Souq al-Juma in a mismatched uniform,riding in a small white government car and worried for his life due to rebel attacks in the capital on soldiers like him.

Last Thursday,he said,four armed rebels ambushed a group of his fellow soldiers,killing an amateur soldier named Walid,a 20-year-old student,and leaving another in the hospital.

We are afraid, Refat said. We are standing under the light and they come from the darkness.

Novice soldiers like Refat,whose account provided the first confirmation of widespread rebel reports of their nocturnal guerrilla attacks,appear to be an increasingly important part of Gaddafis defence against potential insurrection in Tripoli. The professional soldiers who once cruised these streets,he said,have all been called away to fight on the front lines near Misrata,the Nafusa Mountains or Brega.

As anxiety hung over Tripoli Friday on the four-month anniversary of the start of the Libyan uprising,Refat was patrolling the streets with another amateur soldier,a petroleum engineer in civilian life,under the supervision of an older,non-uniformed leader who made his living as a teacher.

No one has a gun or a Kalashnikov, Refat said,to prove the degree of calm in the neighbourhood.

To counter any potential opposition,the government organised a rally by thousands of Gaddafi supporters for much of Friday in the citys central Green Square.

State television broadcast a recorded message from Gaddafi. NATO will be defeated, he said,calling the rebels sons of dogs.