In an outrageous interview with ABC’s Christiane Amanpour and the BBC’s Jeremy Bowen, the embattled Libyan leader denies the existence of protests and explains why he can’t step down. WATCH VIDEO of his comments. Plus, full coverage of Libya.

This is ominous, coming from Muammar Gaddafi: “All my people love me. They would die to protect me,” he told ABC’s Christiane Amanpour and the BBC’s Jeremy Bowen. The Libyan strongman insisted that he couldn’t step down because he isn’t a president or a king. He also continued to deny the existence of demonstrations in Tripoli, and stuck to his line that the protesters were under the influence of drugs supplied by al Qaeda, adding that his supporters were under orders not to shoot back. He also said he feels betrayed by the United States and accused them of wanting to invade. "I'm surprised that we have an alliance with the West to fight al Qaeda, and now that we are fighting terrorists they have abandoned us," he said. "Perhaps they want to occupy Libya."

Gaddafi's interview with ABC’s Christiane Amanpour and the BBC’s Jeremy Bowen :