As Libyan leader's bizarre world comes crashing in ~ Son says everything's fine

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- The son of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi said Sunday his country is a victim of the media and "miscommunication."

Saif al-Islam Gadhafi appeared on ABC TV's "This Week" and defended his father's 41-year rule and government as the country was wracked by demonstrations.

"You know, we are the victims of miscommunication," he said in the interview, adding there was a "big, big gap between reality and the media reports."

Libyan state media has been showing little of the protests and military reaction in the past two weeks, although citizens' cell phone videos and photos have shown grisly scenes of deadly violence.

Reports emerged Sunday from the United Nations and human rights groups that at least 1,000 people had been killed in the uprising and tens of thousands of people were fleeing the country.

Gadhafi's son disputed the claims.

"Listen, nobody is leaving this country. We live here, we die here," he said.

Foreign mercenaries!