Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Libya's Gadhafi Vows to Not to Leave VOA News February 22, 2011 This image broadcast on Libyan state television, February 22, 2011, shows Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi addresses the nation in Tripoli Photo: AP This image broadcast on Libyan state television, February 22, 2011, shows country's leader Moammar Gadhafi addresses the nation in Tripoli Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has vowed not to leave his country and to die as a "martyr" as anti-government protests rage in Libya. He made a passionate speech on state television Tuesday, saying that he was a "revolutionary." He urged Libyans to help defend the country against those who were stirring the unrest, people he referred to as "gangs" or "terrorists." The Libyan leader said he was speaking from a home that was bombed by the United States and Britain in 1986. Mr. Gadhafi is losing the support of key figures in his government as Libyan officials at home and abroad resign or defect in response to his deadly crackdown on the nationwide protests demanding his ouster. The protests represent the greatest challenge to Mr. Gadhafi's rule since he took power in 1969. Witnesses in Tripoli said Libyan helicopters and warplanes struck civilian areas Monday, while African mercenaries and pro-Gadhafi gunmen opened fire indiscriminately to terrorize the population. Libyan state-run television said Tuesday that foreign media reports of massacres in the country were "lies" aimed at destroying the morale of the public. Libyan diplomats in several countries say they have severed relations with Mr. Gadhafi to protest attacks by his forces on protesters. Libyan Ambassador to the United States Ali Aujali called on the Libyan leader to step down. Several other Libyan envoys said they resigned, including the ambassadors to India and Indonesia and a senior diplomat in China. Libya's embassies in Malaysia and Australia said they no longer represent Mr. Gadhafi. His Justice Minister Mustafa Abdel-Jalil resigned Monday in protest at the crackdown, while two Libyan fighter pilots flew their jets to Malta, saying they had defected after being ordered to attack demonstrators. Earlier, Libyan television said security forces loyal to Mr. Gadhafi were attacking the "hideouts" of "saboteurs," without elaborating. It also quoted the Libyan leader's son, Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, as saying Libyan warplanes only struck ammunition dumps. Human Rights Watch said Tuesday that it had received reports of at least 62 deaths in Tripoli since Sunday. The U.S.-based rights group says the information is from sources at two hospitals in the city. On Sunday, Human Rights Watch said 233 people have been killed in the uprising, mostly in the country's eastern provinces, which appear to have fallen under the control of anti-Gadhafi forces. The Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights said Monday at least nine Libyan cities, including Benghazi, Sirte and Misrata, were in the hands of the protesters. The reports could not be independently confirmed because Libya has barred the entry of foreign journalists and cut some communication networks in the country. The United Nations Security Council is holding a closed session late Tuesday on Libya's unrest. Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. NEW: Follow our Middle East reports on [1]Twitter and discuss them on our [2]Facebook page. References 1. http://twitter.com/VOAMidEast 2. http://www.facebook.com/pages/VOAMiddleEastVoices/124360240958667? v=wall .