Division has emerged within Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC) Tripoli – Imad Ajaj Division has emerged within Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC), just weeks after it gained control of the nation’s capital. Ismail Al-Salabi, the military leader of the February 17th brigade, called on the NTC to resign, accusing the body of being an agent of the Gaddafi regime.
Al-Salabi also accused Libyan secular groups of discrediting Islamists in order to create a political environment beneficial to Gaddafi.
Al-Salabi has warned the NTC’s foreign allies against unfreezing Libyan assets abroad, as he fears that the assets will be controlled by the same officials who managed Libya’s assets under Gaddafi.
Some members of the NTC are former-Gaddafi officials.
A spokesman for the NTC, who asked to remain anonymous, told Arabstoday that Al-Salabi controls over 3000 fighters.
Al-Salabi is considered a major player in Libya, having accompanied the NTC head, Abdel Jalil, to a NATO meeting in Doha last month. Al-Salabi professed his full support for Jalil at the meeting.
Salabi fought alongside the Mujahideen during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, but denies any links to Islamist groups outside of Libya like Al Qaeda and Taliban.
In more trouble for the NTC, Amnesty International has accused both sides of the Libyan conflict of crimes against humanity, saying that NTC fighters had committed possible war crimes.
While the London-based rights group\'s report consisted mainly of damning examples of violations by Gaddafi\'s regime, it said the NTC appeared unwilling to hold its fighters accountable for human rights violations.
Amnesty said in the first days of the uprising against Gaddafi\'s rule groups of protesters killed a number of captured soldiers and suspected mercenaries.
\"Some were beaten to death, at least three were hanged, and others were shot dead after they had been captured or had surrendered, the report, \"The Battle for Libya -- Killings, Disappearances and Torture,\" said.
\"The NTC is facing a difficult task of reigning in opposition fighters and vigilante groups responsible for serious human rights abuses, including possible war crimes but has shown unwillingness to hold them accountable,\" the report said.
Meanwhile, fighting has continued in few remaining Gaddafi strongholds.
Rebels yesterday entered the city of Sirte from the west.
A field rebel leader told Arabstoday on Monday that four rebels were killed and 30 others wounded in clashes with Gaddafi loyalists on the outskirts of Sirte.
In addition, he said that a number of Gaddafi loyalists were killed and wounded.
The leader confirmed that heavy fighting is currently taking place in Sirte.
The leader said that NATO had also intercepted a Scud missile in the air over the city of Misrata, 210km (130 mi) to the east of Tripoli.
AFP reported that civilians poured out of the desert town of Bani Walid Monday after intense fighting between Gaddafi loyalists and troops of the new regime who have encircled it.
But those fleeing said many more remained trapped inside the oasis town, 180 kilometres (110 miles) from the capital, for want of fuel for their vehicles.
\"Families are scared to death by this war,\" said Mohammed Suleiman as he passed through a checkpoint with 10 relatives crammed into the back of his white BMW.
West of Sirte, an NTC commander said his forces had met strong resistance as they advanced to a place called \"Checkpoint 50\" -- 50 kilometres from the town.
\"We came under fire from a lot of Grads (rockets),\" said field commander Umran al-Awaib.
A prominent source told Arabstoday that three rebels died when entering Bani Walid, with four critically injured in clashes with Gaddafi troops. The injured were taken to hospital in Misrata.
The unexpected counter-offensive by Gaddafi loyalists came despite the flight to neighbouring Niger of 32 members of his inner circle during the past 10 days.
Gaddafi\'s remaining forces also launched ferocious counterattacks Monday on the oil refinery town of Ras Lanuf in the east, on the road towards Gaddafi\'s hometown of Sirte, and at Bani Walid southeast of the capital Tripoli.
Striking deep behind enemy lines, Gaddafi fighters killed at least 12 NTC soldiers at Ras Lanuf, an NTC military spokesman told AFP.
Meanwhile, Gaddafi told the Iraqi television station, Al Rai, that the events in Libya are “a rebellion on the great leader (himself) and the Libyan people.”
Al Rai said that it could not broadcast Gaddafi’s most recent message in full for security reasons.
Misha\'an al-Juburi, the owner of the television station, Viewers Today, said: “we were supposed to have a televised message from Gaddafi today (Sunday night or Monday) that depicted him among his supporters in Libya, and showed that he was not Venezuela or Niger or anywhere else in the world, but we had to postpone it for security reasons.”
Al-Juburi read out a statement from Gaddafi instead: “We cannot give Libya up to occupiers again, just as the foreign agents want us to do. We have no choice but to fight until we are victorious and have beaten the rebellion. We will not give our oil to France.”
Meanwhile, Libya\'s new leaders have pledged \"moderate\" Islamic rule in Libya.
Interim leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil received a hero\'s welcome when he made a public speech in Tripoli\'s main square late on Monday. Thousands celebrated last month\'s fall of the Gaddafi regime in Martyrs\' Square, two days after Abdel Jalil, the head of the National Transitional Council (NTC), arrived in Tripoli from Benghazi in the east.
Moderate Islam would be the main source of legislation in post-Gaddafi Libya, he told the crowd. \"We will not accept any extremist ideology, on the right or the left. We are a Muslim people, for a moderate Islam, and we will stay on this road,\" he said.