Libya's new 'leader' says Sharia law will be used as basis to guide country after fall of Gaddafi regime



Libya's interim leader has said Sharia law will be used as the basis for new legislation as the country removes all traces of the Gaddafi regime.

Mustafa Abdel Jalil, making his first public speech in Tripoli in front of 10,000 people, warned against reprisals by rebel forces against elements of the Gaddafi regime.

And he said that 'extremist ideology' would not be tolerated under the new regime.

Breaking new ground: Interim Libyan leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil waves to supporters after making his first speech in Martyrs' Square, Tripoli

The National Transitional Council chairman said: 'We seek a state of law, prosperity and one where sharia is the main source for legislation, and this requires many things and conditions.'

Pro-Gaddafi fighters yesterday killed 15 guards at an oil refinery in an attempt to disrupt the NTC's bid to revive the oil-based Libyan economy.

And a Syrian-based television station claimed it had received a new message from the fugitive Libyan leader, who has issued regular battle calls to his followers in the three weeks since Tripoli was overrun.

It quoted Colonel Gaddafi, who it said was still in Libya, as saying: 'We cannot give up Libya to colonisation one more time... there is nothing more to do except fight till victory.'

Regime change: Mr Jalil, chairman of the Libyan Transitional National Council, has warned rebels against reprisals on the Gaddafi regime

Revolution: Rebel supporters flash victory signs in the Libyan capital as the NTC attempts to revive oil production in the country

The interim council is struggling to assert its control over the entire country and capture a handful of stubbornly defended pro-Gaddafi towns.



Human rights group Amnesty International has warned that the security vacuum risks sending Libya spiralling into a bloody cycle of attacks and reprisals.

Defiant: Syrian TV claims to have received another message from deposed Colonel Gaddafi, urging supporters to continue fighting

Mr Jalil said: 'We need to open the courts to anyone who harmed the Libyan people in any way.

'The judicial system will decide.'

Senior NTC officials also see capturing Gaddafi and members of his family who are still on the run as crucial to finally declaring victory in the seven-month war.

Gaddafi's son Saadi arrived in neighbouring Niger on Sunday after crossing the Sahara desert frontier.

Yesterday, the U.S. State Department said the government of Niger had confirmed it intended to detain the former footballer.

But a Nigerien government spokesman said he was only being watched for now.

'Nothing has changed in the government's position. There is no international search for him. Like the others he is just under surveillance,' the spokesman said, referring to Gaddafi loyalists who have fled to Niger.

Two other sons and Gaddafi's only daughter have fled to Algeria. One son is reported to have died in the war, and three others are still on the run.



The NTC has said it will send a delegation to Niger to seek the return of anyone wanted for crimes.



Support: Rebel fighters raise their assault rifles into the air as Mr Jalil arrived in Tripoli from Benghazi over the weekend

Symbol: A young girl stands above the crowd in the renamed Martyrs' Square. But pro-Gaddafi forces have launched fresh attacks on oil refineries

Niger, like Algeria, has cited humanitarian reasons for accepting fugitives of the former government, but has promised to respect its commitments to the International Criminal Court, which wants to try Gaddafi, son Saif al-Islam and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi for war crimes.



NTC forces, which seized Tripoli on August 23, said they were meeting fierce resistance on the fourth day of fighting for the Gaddafi-held desert town of Bani Walid, 95 miles southeast of the capital.



Libya's economy is almost entirely dependent on oil, and restarting production is crucial to restoring the economy.

