Rebels' Bounty: Jeweled Pistols, Designer Clothes

Treasure perks up still-battling rebels
By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 23, 2011 4:39 AM CDT
Jeweled Pistols 'Liberated' From Gadhafi Villa
Libyan rebels flash victory signs as they patrol a street in the capital Tripoli yesterday.   (Getty Images)

When fighting a revolution leaves you exhausted, nothing satisfies like a jewel-encrusted pistol—especially when it's been "liberated" from Moammar Gadhafi's properties. One band of Libyan rebels doggedly battling regime loyalists in the streets of Tripoli yesterday managed to boost its morale with a truckload of such treasures—"enough to furnish a small boutique," according to the Telegraph—taken from the homes of the Gadhafi clan. "We are very tired but happy," said one 16-year-old fighter. "These are nice things."

He showed off a pile of fancy clothes, designer-label after-shaves, bejeweled guns and a sword, and a general's hat taken from one of Gadhafi's sons, Saadi. The treasures were welcome reward amid continued skirmishes throughout the city where "it's impossible to know" which area is clear or where the "regime's roaming marksmen were likely to pop up," reports the newspaper. After the first heady hours when confident rebels moved into the capital, total victory doesn't seem quite so close now, especially since Gadhafi son and one-time heir apparent Seif al-Islam is out and about after reportedly being "arrested," and is declaring the fight still on. But many are still certain of a total Gadhafi defeat. "Game over," said said one rebel backer. It may be only "99% over" but "whatever happens, Gadhafi's finished." (More Libya stories.)

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