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Gadhafi clan's antics and feuds revealed

An image grab taken from footage broadcast on Libyan state television on February 20, 2011 shows a televised address by Libyan leader Moammer Gadhafi's son Saif al-Islam in Tripoli, Libya. UPI/Ismael Mohamad
An image grab taken from footage broadcast on Libyan state television on February 20, 2011 shows a televised address by Libyan leader Moammer Gadhafi's son Saif al-Islam in Tripoli, Libya. UPI/Ismael Mohamad | License Photo

TRIPOLI, Libya, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Moammar Gadhafi's children fight each other for money and power while living in luxury at public expense, leaked diplomatic cables show.

A 2006 cable from the U.S. Embassy in Libya called the family "Gadhafi Inc.," The New York Times reported.

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One U.S. cable released by WikiLeaks reported that Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, through a newspaper he controls, denied paying Mariah Carey $1 million to sing four songs at a New Year's party on the Caribbean island of St. Barts. He said it was his brother, Muatassim, who did so. A year later, Muatassim hired Beyonce and Usher.

Another cable said Muatassim demanded $1.2 billion in 2008 from the chairman of the state oil company to set up his own militia to rival one led by his brother, Khamis.

"All of the Gadhafi children and favorites are supposed to have income streams from the National Oil Co. and oil service subsidiaries," a 2006 cable said.

Yet another brother, Hannibal, ran away from London after being accused of abusing his wife, Aline. A Gadhafi daughter, Ayesha, advised the wife to say she had been hurt in an accident.

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