Mussa Ibrahim, the last spokesman for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, was arrested yesterday southwest of the capital, the Prime Minister’s office said. “Ibrahim was arrested at a checkpoint in the town of Tarhuna,” read a statement sent to journalists after rumours that he had been detained spread on social networking sites.

“(He) is being taken to Tripoli where he will be handed over to the pertinent authorities to begin questioning,” the statement continued.

Deputy Prime Minister Mustafa Abu Shagur confirmed the news on Twitter with the following post: “Criminal Mussa Ibrahim was arrested and he is now on his way to Tripoli.”

Libyan leader Mohammed Magarief has said not all areas of the North African country have been fully “liberated”, one year after the capture and death of dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Libya was declared “liberated” a few days after his death on October 20, 2011, and while its new rulers have led the nation to elections, they have struggled to impose their authority on a country awash with weapons.

On Friday the National Congress leader singled out Bani Walid, some 160km south of Tripoli, a former Gaddafi stronghold which has seen deadly clashes in the past few days as the army struggles to impose order.

“The campaign to liberate the country has not been fully completed,” Magarief said. He cited “delays” in the formation of the army and police and the failure to disarm and integrate former rebels. “This has led to the spread of chaos that has lured the old regime to infiltrate the country’s institutions inside and to conspire with the regime loyalists on the outside.

“And the chaos has lured others to kidnappings, stealing, and to create non-legitimate prisons.”