Gaddafi 'Buried At Unknown Location'

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and his son Muatassim have reportedly been buried at an unknown location by Libya's National Transitional Council.

Misratah military council official spokesman Ibrahim Beitalmal was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying a brief ceremony took place at 5am local time.

He also said Islamic prayers were read over the bodies, with a few relatives and officials in attendance. The wrangle over the former dictator's body had sparked fears over the country's stability.

NTC officials had previously said the ousted leader would be buried in a secret desert grave.

Transitional government forces had put the body on show in a cold store in Misratah while they argued over what to do with it - until its decay forced them to end the display on Monday.

Sky's Emma Hurd, in Misratah, said: "We know that the bodies were moved out of the cold storage container where they were being held on public display.

"Those people who were going to be attending the burial, apparently including Muslim clerics, were sworn to secrecy and asked to swear on the Koran.

"They didn't want Gaddafi's grave to become a shrinein Libya to his remaining supporters and perhaps a focal point for any future insurgency."

There had been growing unease among the NTC's Western supporters over the grim spectacle, with addafi's body left on a bloodied mattress as decomposition set in.

Soldiers handed out face masks to adults and children as they queued, to help ward off the stench of death and risk of disease.

Col Gaddafi was killed on Thursday while trying to flee his hometown of Sirte after being on the run for several months. News of his burial came as it emerged 100 people had been killed in Sirte when a fuel tank exploded.

NTC commander Leith Mohammed said: "There was an enormous explosion and a huge fire. More than 100 people were killed and 50 others wounded.



Skynews