As world powers hailed the new Libyan leadership at the United Nations Headquarters, the first interim government since Muammar Gaddafi’s ouster would be formed within 10 days.
As world powers hailed the new Libyan leadership at the United Nations Headquarters, the first interim government since Muammar Gaddafi’s ouster would be formed within 10 days.
With the new Libyan flag flying at the UN headquarters in New York, interim government leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil thanked all countries who had helped the "success of the Libyan revolution," which he said cost at least 25,000 lives.
At a special summit, the United Nations and world leaders promised to help the new government with its campaign to take the remaining territory held by Gaddafi fighters and to move towards democracy and free elections.
Meeting the Head of National Transitional Council (NTC) met for the first time the United States President Barack Obama, who promised that the NATO air campaign would continue until Gaddafi and his loyalists lay down their arms.
CABINET FORMATION SOON
For his part, interim Prime Minister Mahmud Jibril unveiled the timeline for a new administration.
"I expect the government to be announced within a week, 10 days maximum from now," said the number two official in the National Transitional Council, the rebel body whose forces ousted Kadhafi.
"Most of the work has been done. It is a question of the number of ministries and the location of the ministries," noting that all could all be in the capital, Tripoli, but it was possible they could be split.
The transitional council was based in Benghazi in the east of the country, whereas Tripoli is in the west.
"For a country which was absent from any democratic process for 42 years from any institutions, from any democratic culture, what's taking place is natural," Jibril said, alluding to the war-torn country's new structure.
GADDAFI: NEW GOV’T “TEMPORARY”
On the other hand, Gaddafi himself, whose whereabouts have been still unknown, addressed his loyalists saying that the new government was only temporary.
"What is happening in Libya is a charade which can only take place thanks to the (NATO-led) air raids, which will not last forever," he said in the message aired by Syria-based Al-Rai television.
"Do not rejoice and don't believe that one regime has been overthrown and another imposed with the help of air and maritime strikes," he added.
The recording was the first by Gaddafu since September 8, when he denied reports he had fled to Algeria or Niger.
ON GROUND
On Wednesday, military commanders said NTC fighters have overrun the key southern city of Sabha, one of the last strongholds of Gaddafi.
"We are in complete control of the city of Sabha. Everybody, including (those who were) pro-Gaddafi, are now with the revolution," Abdelmajid Seif Ennasr, an official for the National Transitional Council in Sabha, told AFP news agency.
He added that the NTC fighters were only encountering "resistance from some individuals here and there."
"Sabha is totally under the control of the revolutionaries," said Mohammed Wardugu, the Benghazi spokesman of the "Desert Shield Brigade" that is fighting in the region.
Sabha, the largest city in the Libyan desert, is home to 100,000 people and an important military base, making it strategically vital.
Earlier on Tuesday, at least three NTC fighters were killed in Sirte, the hometown of Gaddafi. Along with them, 17 others were wounded, Misrata's general hospital, which centralizes casualty figures, reported.
Sporadic rocket fire and mortar exchanges continued to shake Sirte, witnesses said, although the new leadership's forces have reduced their use of heavy artillery since Sunday in a bid to give families a chance to flee.
