Libya blames "criminals" for anti-Gaddafi uprising

Violence that has rocked Libya in the last few days is the work of gangs of delinquent youths manipulated by foreign forces including al Qaeda, Libya's Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

"What is happening in Libya is just a group of youths who were exploited by other people belonging to foreign circles, al Qaeda and other suspicious circles," the statement read out on Libyan state television said. "They are criminals," it added. (Reuters)