Video | Libya state TV shows Gaddafi at a school visit

Libyan state television has broadcasted footage of Col Muammar Gaddafi visiting a school in Tripoli.

9 April 2011, 12:00am

In the footage, which is Muammar Gaddafi's first televised public appearance in five days, Gaddafi is seen entering the school surrounded by bodyguards.

News media reports that the pupils were shouting anti-Western slogans, whilst the images claim to have been recorded today.

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Saddam Hussein did the same thing. I feel that the Allies are weak in taking so long to get rid of him.

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I am no expert in the visual aspects of PR, but this is a blatant example of media staging (did you notice Ibrahim Moussa on left of screen?). There is no eye-contact between the tyrant and the kids in the classroom, there is no sense of warmth or empathy with the children. And what were the burly gorillas doing pushing back the kids? Protecting the Rais from some naughty ones? Andy Farrugia