23 October 2011 Last updated at 14:40New leadership to declare national liberation in Libya
NTC fighters have been returning to a heroes' welcome in Benghazi
The new government in Libya is poised to formally declare national liberation, days after the killing of former leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
A ceremony is to be held in Benghazi, where the National Transitional Council (NTC) had its headquarters during the war to end Gaddafi's 42-year rule.
His capture and death on Thursday came as Nato-backed NTC forces pursued loyalists in his stronghold, Sirte.
The NTC has come under pressure to investigate how he died.
A post-mortem carried out on the former leader's body on Sunday showed he had received a bullet wound to the head, medical sources said.
The body itself, along with that of Gaddafi's son Mutassim, has been put on public display in a cold storage facility in Misrata.
Thousands of people were killed or injured after the violent repression of protests against Gaddafi's rule in February developed into a full-scale civil war.
His government was driven out of the capital, Tripoli, in August.
However he refused to surrender or leave the country, urging his followers to resist the country's new leaders.
'A great day'Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the ceremony in Benghazi.
Continue reading the main storyNEXT STEPS
- National Transitional Council to issue a "declaration of liberation"
- Elections for a Public National Conference to be held within eight months
- The new body is to appoint a prime minister, an interim government and a constituent authority which will draft a new constitution within 60 days
- Constitution to be put to a referendum
- If the constitution is approved, general elections will be held within six months
It is being held outside the barracks where unarmed protesters challenged pro-Gaddafi troops in February, starting the uprising.
NTC spokesman Mustapha Goubrani said this really marked a new beginning for Libya.
"This day is a great day for Libya, for the Libyans," he said.
"It's the first time we feel really fully independent. We have got rid of our dictator and we are starting now our democratic life."
Mr Goubrania said Gaddafi's body would be handed over to people from his tribe for burial.
Elections are due to be held by June of next year, Mr Jibril has said.
He said the new elected body would draft a constitution to be put to a referendum and form an interim government pending a presidential election.
There are conflicting reports as to the whereabouts of Saif al-Islam, and Col Gaddafi's security chief - who are both at large.
Last momentsThe US, UN, major human rights groups and others have called for a transparent investigation into how Gaddafi died.
Continue reading the main story“Start Quote
End Quote Omran al-Oweib NTC commanderGaddafi passed away on the front line - I am responsible for that”
Video footage showed him being captured alive. Officials said he had been killed subsequently in a crossfire.
A post-mortem carried out on the former leader's body on Sunday showed he had received a bullet wound to the head, medical sources said.
The commander of the forces that captured Gaddafi has given details of the Libyan ex-leader's last moments to the BBC.
Omran al-Oweib said he had been dragged from a drainage pipe and had taken 10 steps before he collapsed amid gunfire between NTC forces and Gaddafi supporters.
"I didn't see who killed, which weapon killed Gaddafi," Mr Oweib said.
Libya's acting Prime Minister, Mahmoud Jibril, told the BBC's Hardtalk programme he would have preferred to have Gaddafi alive, to face prosecution for his crimes, and added that he would welcome a full inquiry into his death.
One of Gaddafi's best-known sons, Saif al-Islam, as well as his security chief both remain at large.
Hardtalk with Libyan acting Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril is being broadcast on BBC World News on Sunday 23 October at 10:30, 12:30 and 23:30 GMT.
Sunday 23 October 2011
BBC News - New leadership to declare national liberation in Libya
via bbc.co.uk
