The teenagers are told they are going on training exercises until they reach the front lines, when they are given rifles and told by officers they will be shot if they retreat or desert.

Two badly-wounded teenage fighters shown to The Daily Telegraph said they were told Misurata had been overrun by drug addicts, Islamic militants and Egyptian invaders.

One said his own side had opened fire on his own teenage detachment when they later fled from the rebels…

“We were told we had to cleanse Misurata. There were invaders from Egypt and we had to fight against them.” “We said we didn’t want any part in it and requested to leave. They refused and some tried to run off and officers fired on them.” Those who stayed were reassured 500 reinforcements were on their way, though these never arrived.