Libya: New leaders to announce 'liberation' today

Tripoli, Oct 23: Libya's new leaders will declare liberation on Sunday (today). The declaration will kick off the clock for election after months of bloodshed culminated in the death of Muammar Gaddafi, who ruled Libya with a dictatorial grip for 42 years, until he was ousted by his own people in an uprising that turned into a bloody civil war.

The declaration of liberation will come more than two months after revolutionary forces entered Tripoli and took control of maximum part of the oil-rich North African nation. It was stalled by fierce resistance by Gaddafi loyalists in his hometown of Sirte, Bani Walid and pockets in the South.

Sirte was the last to fall, but Gaddafi"s son and one-time heir apparent and many of his fighters have apparently escaped, raising fears they could continue to make trouble.

Meanwhile, the governing National Transitional Council (NTC) was taking positive efforts to change the country that was ruled by one man for more than four decades into a democracy. Gaddafi had been one of the world's most mercurial leaders, dominating Libya with a regime that often seemed to run by his whims bringing international condemnation and isolation on his country for four years.

NTC officials had said the announcement would be made on Oct 22 in the eastern city of Benghazi, the revolution"s birthplace. But spokesman Abdel-Rahman Busin said preparations were under way for a Sunday ceremony instead. He didn"t give an explanation for the delay.

The key leaders of NTC had said that it would declare a new interim government within a month of liberation and organize elections for a constitutional assembly within eight months and later it will organize parliamentary and presidential vote within a year.

OneIndia News