Occupiers say Gadhafi mansion now theirs

LONDON, March 12 (UPI) -- Squatters in Saif Gadhafi's London mansion say it is now an embassy for the Libyan rebels in Benghazi and, possibly, a refugee center.

The squatters, who have come together under the name Topple The Tyrants, includes Libyans who were in Britain when protests began in Tripoli and Benghazi, and young British radicals, The Guardian reported.

"We are not here to cause any damage," one Libyan said. "Why would we? It's our house. It belongs to the Libyan people. We're here to make sure it isn't sold to finance more killing."

Saif Gadhafi, the second son of the Libyan dictator, holds a doctorate from the London School of Economics. His mansion in Hampstead, a leafy and historic area in North London, is worth 10 million pounds (almost $17 million) by some estimates, with a corporation based in the British Virgin Islands holding the actual title.

The amenities include a private movie theater and swimming pool.

"We're opening this space as an embassy for the Benghazi government, and as a place to house refugees fleeing the tyranny," one of the occupiers said.