Muammar Gaddafi has claimed that “I have been out of power since 1977” when he handed power to the Libyan people in front of the world. In a speech aired on the Syrian television channel, Al-Rai, Gaddafi said that the Libyan people recognise no authority other than the people’s authority and the people’s congress. Anything other than that is void and illegal. Gaddafi also warned Libyans to not “believe that a regime was overthrown. This new regime has been imposed on the Libyan people by air and sea bombardment.” Gaddafi said that Libya’s new government is a farce that will not last for long. He claimed that his regime was based on the peoples’ needs and therefore cannot be removed. Gaddafi said that the NATO aircraft in Libya will not last.