London, Sep 24 (IANS): The former security chief of deposed Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi has said the dictator had raped hundreds of women during his reign in the North African country.

The dictator's former chief of security Mansour Daw said Gaddafi even formed an entire government department to source and provide him with prostitutes, reported the Daily Mail Tuesday.

Daw said many women were locked in Gaddafi's Tripoli compound to provide him with their services day and night.

Gaddafi would also take the women along when on foreign trips as his bodyguards, Daw added.

"It fell under the umbrella of the Department of Protocol under the direction of Nuri Mesmari, a schemer who had the gall to parade around in a general’s uniform every now and then," the Daily Mail quoted Daw as saying.

"(Mesmari) had the nickname 'the general of special affairs' so the only word that was applicable could be avoided -- General of the Whores," Daw said.

Daw also revealed that those who helped Gaddafi to fulfil his sexual desire were quickly promoted.

"(Mesmari) looked for women everywhere; that was his specialty and his primary function; he would even pick up prostitutes on the street," added Daw.

Muammar Gaddafi was killed by rebels near his hometown of Sirte in October 2011.