The same “hallucination” pills he alluded to on Tuesday?

Benghazi, Libya (CNN) — Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi on Thursday blamed the violence in his country on young people, who he said are taking some sort of pills and being exploited by Osama bin Laden.

Speaking by phone on state TV as reports came in of pro-Gadhafi forces killing unarmed civilians in the town of Zawiya, Gadhafi said, “Our children have been manipulated by al Qaeda.”

“Those exploiting the youth have to be arrested,” he added.

Gadhafi also specifically addressed Zawiya, saying, “We shouldn’t leave” the town “without any control.”

Ten days into the protests that have lost him control of eastern Libya and led prominent members of his own government to defect and join demonstrations, Gadhafi showed no sign of even considering giving up the post he has held for 42 years.