Libya aims for government and forms Gaddafi probe

Libya’s interim leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil set a two-week target yesterday for the country to have a new government and said a commission of inquiry will probe Muammar Gaddafi’s killing.

“We have begun talks (on forming a government), and this matter will not take a month but will be finished within two weeks,” the National Transitional Council (NTC) chairman told a news conference in Benghazi.

A day after the NTC’s declaration of Libya’s liberation in the wake of Colonel Gaddafi’s capture and death, Mr Abdel Jalil also said a commission of inquiry is being set up to probe the controversial killing of the fallen strongman.

“In response to international calls, we have started to put in place a commission tasked with investigating the circumstances of Muammar Gaddafi’s death in the clash with his circle as he was being captured,” Abdel Jalil said.

And after having raised concern in the West by stressing on Sunday that the new Libya will be governed in line with Islamic sharia law, the NTC chief gave assurances it would remain a “moderate” Muslim country.

“I would like to assure the international community that we as Libyans are Muslims but moderate Muslims,” he said.

The French Foreign Ministry said Paris will keep a watch over Libya’s respect for human rights after the promise of a system of Sharia to run post-Gaddafi Libya.

“We will be watchful of respect for human rights and democratic principles, notably cultural and religious diversity and the equality of men and women to which France is unswervingly attached,” ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said.

And EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the introduction of Sharia in Libya must respect human rights.