Gadhafi's Forces on Rebels' Deadline: No Way

Libyan rebels yesterday told Gadhafi's men they need to surrender by Saturday or else—and it looks like the forces are opting for the "or else." In an overnight phone call to the AP, chief Gadhafi spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said the deadline would be rejected: "No dignified honorable nation would accept an ultimatum from armed gangs," he explained, and repeated Gadhafi's offer to send his son Saadi to negotiate with rebels. Erg, except there's one small problem with that: AP today reports that Saadi is trying to negotiate the terms of his own surrender.

The rebel commander in Tripoli says Saadi called him yesterday and asked whether his safety could be guaranteed. "We told him 'Don't fear for your life. We will guarantee your rights as a human being, and will deal with you humanely,'" says Abdel Hakim Belhaj, who adds that the younger Gadhafi called him back this morning but he missed the call. He said he knows Saadi's whereabouts. Of course, the AP notes the rebels have previously made claims regarding Gadhafi's sons that turned out to be false. (More Saadi Gadhafi stories.)