A security aide of slain Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi detained in Misrata has told CNN and BBC that the longest-serving leader of Africa was forced to scavenge for food and hide in abandoned homes in his hometown Sirte during his last days.

Mansour Daou, who is awaiting trial for his alleged role in a 1996 prison massacre and hiring of African mercenaries to protect Gaddafi, also said the dictator did not fight and instead read books that he brought along with him and wrote while hiding in Sirte.

Daou told CNN in an interview that Gaddafi fled Tripoli on Aug. 18, two days before rebels reached and captured the capital.
He, Gadhafi's son, Saif al-Islam and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi stayed in Tripoli until Aug. 22 before fleeing to Bani Walid, another stronghold of Gaddafi. He rejoined Gaddafi in Sirte after four days in Bani Walid.

When rebels started infiltrating Sirte, Daou said they moved around abandoned houses every three to four days and ate the little food they could find. They had no electricity, water and communication with the outside world.

Daou said Gaddafi had books stacked in suitcases. He read these and also wrote.

Gaddafi's group of 350 men wanted to leave Sirte before a full-scale siege by the rebels but Gaddafi refused. On Oct. 20, Gaddafi and his son Mutassem decided to make a run to his birthplace in Jaref, 20 kilometres west of Sirte, according to Daou. By this time, his men were down to 200 as others were either killed in fighting with the rebels or left.

Gaddafi's convoy of 40 vehicles started the drive to Jaref at 8 a.m. instead of before dawn, when rebels were supposed to be asleep. Two NATO jets struck the convoy twice killing most of the men and destroying the vehicles.

Gaddafi, Daou and others fled on foot until rebels cornered them in the drainage pipes. Daou said he was struck by shrapnel and fell unconscious. He did not know the fate that befell Gaddafi in the hands of the angry rebels.