A glamour model and ex-girlfriend of one of Colonel Gaddafi's sons has recalled the terrifying moment when she was captured by Libyan rebels who threatened to 'burn her alive'.
Talitha van Zon was ambushed and forced to take refuge at a hotel when the rebels struck Tripoli, the Daily Mail reports.
A day before, Talitha had been in the company of Gaddafi's son, Mutassim Gaddafi, as he was drinking Jack Daniels whisky and coke and boasting of a victory over the rebels.
Talitha narrated how she escaped from the clutches of the rebels by leaping from the hotel's balcony, as she feared that they would burn her alive when they uttered the word 'petrol'.
"I was shocked when I met Mutassim. He had changed. It was the first time I had seen him since just before the February uprising. He had a beard, he was sitting on a couch strewn with automatic weapons, and he was guarded by unsmiling 16-year-old boys with sub-machine guns", the Telegraph quoted Talitha, as saying.
The image of Mutassim plotting the war against rebels sharply contrasted with the fun-loving playboy she had been in a relationship with in 2004.
Talitha said she remained in a 'gilded cage' throughout the relationship and was unaware about Libyans' lives who seemed 'happy enough'.
Though she remained in a relationship with Mutassim for only three months, both remained good friends.
Talitha said Mutassim had once denied to her that Libyans were suppressed people.
According to him, the citizens had free hospital care and schools, and cheap bread and rice.
Talitha's last meeting with Mutassim was on August 26 before the rebels attacked Tripoli.
