New rulers to declare Libya free

23 October 2011 Last updated at 10:23 ET

NTC fighters have been returning to a hero’s welcome in Benghazi

A huge crowd has gathered in the Libyan city of Benghazi to hear the new government declare national liberation after Colonel Gaddafi’s death.

The National Transitional Council (NTC) is due to make a formal declaration in the city where it was based 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, among them uniformed NTC fighters, poured into Benghazi’s central square on Sunday, waving flags.

NTC spokesman Mustapha Goubrani said a new beginning for beckoned 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 Goubrani 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, Libya’s acting Prime Minister, Mahmoud Jibril, said.

The new elected body, he added, 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 moments

The US, UN, major human rights groups and others have called for a transparent investigation into how Gaddafi died.

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.

Mr 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.

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