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Libya: Muammar Gaddafi's body 'undergoes post-mortem' Muammar Gaddafi's death: NTC commander speaks
(about 2 hours later)
A post-mortem examination on the body of Libya's ex-leader Muammar Gaddafi has been performed in Misrata, an official told the BBC. The commander of forces who captured Muammar Gaddafi has given details of the Libyan ex-leader's last moments.
He said the body would be handed over to relatives. The burial has been delayed, with officials divided about what to do with the remains. Omran al-Oweib told the BBC that the injured colonel had been dragged from a drainage pipe where he was hiding in his hometown of Sirte, taken 10 steps and collapsed amid gunfire on Thursday.
The UN has called for an inquiry about into Col Gaddafi's killing on Thursday. He said it was impossible to tell who had fired the fatal bullet.
Meanwhile the commander of the forces that captured him in Sirte gave details of the events leading to his death. Meanwhile confusion has emerged over whether a full post-mortem had been performed on Col Gaddafi.
In an exclusive BBC interview, Omran el Oweib said the injured colonel had been dragged from the drainage pipe where he had been hiding, took 10 steps and collapsed. His body - and that of his son Mutassim, who was also killed on Thursday - have been placed in a meat storage facility in the city of Misrata.
He said gunfire then broke out between Gaddafi supporters and fighters of the National Transitional Council (NTC). It was impossible to tell who fired the fatal bullet, he added. The foreign affairs spokesman of Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC), Ahmed Gebreel, told the BBC the post-mortem had been carried out on Saturday.
We've just been shown into a refrigerator compartment in a market on the outskirts of Misrata. Inside is the body of Muammar Gaddafi. He's got various wounds on his body and what appear to be wounds on his head, although it's not clear whether there is in fact a head shot that was talked about as the cause of death. However a senior health official within the NTC, Nagy Barakat, said there was no need for such an examination as the cause of death had emerged from a pathologist's report.
Secret burial?
We've been shown into a refrigerator compartment in a market on the outskirts of Misrata. Inside is the body of Muammar Gaddafi. He's got various wounds on his body and what appear to be wounds on his head, although it's not clear whether there is in fact a head shot that was talked about as the cause of death.
The crucial thing is that this is recognisably the former Libyan leader, his curly hair and trademark goatee beard. There are people queuing up outside still to view the body, the occasional chants of 'Allahu Akbar' ['God is great'], going up from the crowd, who are all donning face masks to overcome the smell.The crucial thing is that this is recognisably the former Libyan leader, his curly hair and trademark goatee beard. There are people queuing up outside still to view the body, the occasional chants of 'Allahu Akbar' ['God is great'], going up from the crowd, who are all donning face masks to overcome the smell.
It's now coming up to two days since the Libyan leader was captured and killed, and still he hasn't been buried, contrary to Islamic custom.It's now coming up to two days since the Libyan leader was captured and killed, and still he hasn't been buried, contrary to Islamic custom.
Mr Oweib said he had driven the former leader to a field hospital, where he was pronounced dead. "I tried to save his life but I couldn't," the commander said. In an exclusive BBC interview, Mr Oweib said: "I didn't see who killed, which weapon killed Gaddafi." He added that some of his fighters had wanted to shoot the colonel, but that he had sought to keep him alive.
Questions have been mounting as to what happened in Col Gaddafi's last moments. Acting Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril said he had been shot in crossfire. After Col Gaddafi collapsed, Mr Oweib said, he drove him to a field hospital where he was pronounced dead. "I tried to save his life but I couldn't," the commander said.
Video footage suggests he was dragged through the streets. Questions have been mounting about the death. Video footage suggests he was dragged through the streets.
Secret burial?
The US has called on officials to give an account in an "open and transparent manner". Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the "way his death happened poses an entire number of questions".The US has called on officials to give an account in an "open and transparent manner". Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the "way his death happened poses an entire number of questions".
Mr Lavrov called for a full investigation, echoing a similar call by UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay.Mr Lavrov called for a full investigation, echoing a similar call by UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay.
However, correspondents say few Libyans are worried about the manner of their former dictator's humiliating end. Celebrations continued late into the night across Libya.However, correspondents say few Libyans are worried about the manner of their former dictator's humiliating end. Celebrations continued late into the night across Libya.
NTC foreign affairs spokesman Ahmed Gebreel told the BBC that the post-mortem had been carried out on Saturday. The burial has been delayed, amid uncertainty about what to do with the remains.
However another official, Fathi al-Bashaagha, told AFP news agency that there would be no autopsy.
Hundreds of Libyans have been queuing to get a glimpse of the bodies of Col Gaddafi and his son Mutassim - who was also killed on Thursday. They had been placed in a meat storage facility.
It is unclear whether the ex-leader will be buried in Misrata, in his hometown of Sirte, or elsewhere.It is unclear whether the ex-leader will be buried in Misrata, in his hometown of Sirte, or elsewhere.
Officials from the NTC have said they want a secret burial to prevent any grave being turned into a shrine.Officials from the NTC have said they want a secret burial to prevent any grave being turned into a shrine.
ElectionsElections
Libya's is expected to formally announce the liberation of the country during the weekend.Libya's is expected to formally announce the liberation of the country during the weekend.
The first elections should take place by next June, Libya's acting prime minister has said.The first elections should take place by next June, Libya's acting prime minister has said.
"According to what we call the constitutional declaration, the first election after the liberation of the country... should be within a period of eight months maximum," Mahmoud Jibril told a conference in Jordan. "According to what we call the constitutional declaration, the first election after the liberation of the country... should be within a period of eight months maximum," acting Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril told a conference in Jordan.
"The national congress of Libya... is entitled with two tasks, the first one to draft a constitution over which we'll have a referendum and the second task is to form the interim government which should last until the first presidential elections are held.""The national congress of Libya... is entitled with two tasks, the first one to draft a constitution over which we'll have a referendum and the second task is to form the interim government which should last until the first presidential elections are held."
Nato says it will end its campaign in Libya by 31 October.Nato says it will end its campaign in Libya by 31 October.
The alliance's Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said on Friday that as the mission wound down Nato "will make sure there are no attacks against civilians".The alliance's Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said on Friday that as the mission wound down Nato "will make sure there are no attacks against civilians".
Nato's seven-month campaign of air strikes was carried out under a UN mandate authorising the use of force to protect civilians.Nato's seven-month campaign of air strikes was carried out under a UN mandate authorising the use of force to protect civilians.
Col Gaddafi, who came to power in a coup in 1969, was toppled in August. He was making his last stand in Sirte alongside two of his sons, Mutassim and Saif al-Islam, according to reports.Col Gaddafi, who came to power in a coup in 1969, was toppled in August. He was making his last stand in Sirte alongside two of his sons, Mutassim and Saif al-Islam, according to reports.
There are conflicting reports as to the whereabouts of Saif al-Islam, and Col Gaddafi's security chief - who are both at large.There are conflicting reports as to the whereabouts of Saif al-Islam, and Col Gaddafi's security chief - who are both at large.
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