Won’t Hand Over Suspects, Kadafi Says : Terrorism: The Libyan leader defies U.N. demand on pair wanted in Pan Am bombing. In a fiery speech, he seeks to rally Muslims to his nation’s defense.

Moammar Kadafi, defiantly rejecting U.N. demands to hand over suspects in the 1988 Pan American Airways bombing, sought Saturday in a fiery speech to rally Muslims worldwide to Libya’s defense.

“Our stand is clear. We will not let go of our sovereignty. Libyan law cannot be violated without death,” the Libyan leader, dressed in a cream-colored suit and cape and waving his fists, told a crowd of about 3,000 people in Tripoli’s main plaza.

Some shouted “Jihad!”--holy war--in response.

But despite the heated rhetoric, Kadafi left open the possibility that Libya might still seek some compromise to head off the air, arms and diplomatic sanctions the U.N. Security Council has voted to impose April 15 unless the suspects are handed over.

Underscoring the growing tensions, the State Department on Saturday reiterated its call for U.S. citizens to leave Libya immediately. About 500 to 1,000 Americans are in Libya, most working with oil companies or as consultants with construction projects. Washington, which has no diplomatic ties with Tripoli, had already advised its citizens to get out.

Also Saturday, Venezuela recalled its ambassador to Tripoli, two days after its embassy was sacked by a Libyan mob. Venezuela held the presidency of the Security Council at the time of the sanctions vote.

The two Libyans are wanted in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, which killed 270 people. Britain and the United States last year issued warrants for the pair.

France is also seeking the trial of four other Libyan suspects in the 1989 bombing of a French UTA jetliner over Niger, which killed 171 people.

Kadafi’s speech, marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, was his first public address since the Security Council approved the sanctions Tuesday.

During the sometimes rambling address, Kadafi made several bizarre statements, including assertions that Western nations want Christmas trees to replace Muslim symbols, and that the United States exported millions of rats to wreck other countries’ agriculture.

He also suggested a deal that would permit the Libyans to be tried by the Arab League or an Arab state, or what he termed a friendly country.