Alternattiva Democratika has called for the setting up of an independent commission to look into allegations of underhand dealings between Malta and Muammar Gaddafi's Libya.

Party leader Michael Briguglio and foreign affairs spokesman Arnold Cassola said several allegations were being swept under the carpet by both major political parties.

Among them were CIA cables that showed that political parties received Libyan funding and that policemen and airport officials were spies for Libya or had facilitated the transit of Libyan officials through Malta.

Such an investigation was needed for political and economic reasons, Dr Cassola said, It needed to be ensured that people who benefited from the rebuilding of Libya were not the same people involved in underhand activities.

He also queiried how some €88m in frozen funds in Malta were linked to the Gaddafi family. How did this happen and were any Maltese involved?

Mr Briguglio questioned how the Labour Party had not yet taken a firm stand against the Gaddafi regime. He said that AD took a clear position against Gaddafi years ago, even while Prime Minister Gonzi and MEP Simon Busuttil were rejoicing over the push-back policy involving migrants.