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Libya conflict: Gaddafi sons 'left Bani Walid' Libya conflict: Gaddafi sons 'left Bani Walid'
(40 minutes later)
Two sons of fugitive Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi were holed up in the town of Bani Walid until Saturday but have now left, the head of the interim government has told the BBC.Two sons of fugitive Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi were holed up in the town of Bani Walid until Saturday but have now left, the head of the interim government has told the BBC.
Mustafa Abdul Jalil told the BBC that Saif al-Islam and Mutassim Gaddafi had been blocking the town's surrender.Mustafa Abdul Jalil told the BBC that Saif al-Islam and Mutassim Gaddafi had been blocking the town's surrender.
Earlier, rebels said negotiations for Bani Walid's surrender had broken down and an assault was imminent.Earlier, rebels said negotiations for Bani Walid's surrender had broken down and an assault was imminent.
But Mr Abdul Jalil said talks would continue until Saturday's deadline.But Mr Abdul Jalil said talks would continue until Saturday's deadline.
Meanwhile, a senior anti-Gaddafi commander is demanding an apology from the UK and the US for their role in his capture and torture in Libya in 2004.Meanwhile, a senior anti-Gaddafi commander is demanding an apology from the UK and the US for their role in his capture and torture in Libya in 2004.
Their role has been revealed in CIA papers found when offices and prisons in Tripoli were captured by anti-Gaddafi forces belonging to the National Transitional Council (NTC).Their role has been revealed in CIA papers found when offices and prisons in Tripoli were captured by anti-Gaddafi forces belonging to the National Transitional Council (NTC).
Abdel Hakim Belhaj is now the commander of Tripoli, and an important ally of Britain and the United States, but in 2004 he was involved with the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group.Abdel Hakim Belhaj is now the commander of Tripoli, and an important ally of Britain and the United States, but in 2004 he was involved with the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group.
In an operation which Britain and America put together, he was taken off a plane in Bangkok. He says he was tortured there by the CIA, flown to Libya without any legal process and tortured again.In an operation which Britain and America put together, he was taken off a plane in Bangkok. He says he was tortured there by the CIA, flown to Libya without any legal process and tortured again.
British and American agents were not, he said, inside the torture rooms here but they went and interrogated him afterwards. A lot of these documents have been revealed here, and I've been reading some of them.British and American agents were not, he said, inside the torture rooms here but they went and interrogated him afterwards. A lot of these documents have been revealed here, and I've been reading some of them.
What also comes out is the extraordinarily cosy relationship between [former Libyan spy chief] Moussa Koussa and British officials. Many Libyans believe Mr Koussa, who defected in March, is absolutely dripping in blood. There are even letters from a very senior member of MI6 saying, "Dear Moussa, such a shame you couldn't join us for Christmas lunch."What also comes out is the extraordinarily cosy relationship between [former Libyan spy chief] Moussa Koussa and British officials. Many Libyans believe Mr Koussa, who defected in March, is absolutely dripping in blood. There are even letters from a very senior member of MI6 saying, "Dear Moussa, such a shame you couldn't join us for Christmas lunch."
At the same time, Mr Belhaj, who was seen as a dangerous jihadist terrorist at the time by the British and by the Libyans, was talking to Moussa Koussa in jail in Tripoli. According to Mr Belhaj, Moussa Koussa was saying to him, "You will die in this cell."At the same time, Mr Belhaj, who was seen as a dangerous jihadist terrorist at the time by the British and by the Libyans, was talking to Moussa Koussa in jail in Tripoli. According to Mr Belhaj, Moussa Koussa was saying to him, "You will die in this cell."
Details of the case of Abdel Hakim Belhaj are included in messages sent to the Gaddafi government by US and British intelligence services.Details of the case of Abdel Hakim Belhaj are included in messages sent to the Gaddafi government by US and British intelligence services.
Relations between Col Gaddafi's government and China have also been revealed.Relations between Col Gaddafi's government and China have also been revealed.
Other documents found in Tripoli show Chinese arms manufacturers held talks as recently as July with Gaddafi government officials who were seeking arms and ammunition, the Globe and Mail newspaper reported.Other documents found in Tripoli show Chinese arms manufacturers held talks as recently as July with Gaddafi government officials who were seeking arms and ammunition, the Globe and Mail newspaper reported.
The colonel's representatives visited Beijing, a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman said, but no contracts were signed and no shipments were made.The colonel's representatives visited Beijing, a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman said, but no contracts were signed and no shipments were made.
A UN embargo on such sales was in place at the time.A UN embargo on such sales was in place at the time.
Fears of revengeFears of revenge
NTC forces have moved into position around Bani Walid, 150km (95 miles) south-east of the capital Tripoli.NTC forces have moved into position around Bani Walid, 150km (95 miles) south-east of the capital Tripoli.
Bani Walid is one of four towns and cities - the others are Jufra, Sabha and Col Gaddafi's birthplace in Sirte - still controlled by Gaddafi forces.Bani Walid is one of four towns and cities - the others are Jufra, Sabha and Col Gaddafi's birthplace in Sirte - still controlled by Gaddafi forces.
The former rebels say the negotiations with the tribal elders of Bani Walid were never serious, because pro-Gaddafi forces continued to fire while the talks were going on.The former rebels say the negotiations with the tribal elders of Bani Walid were never serious, because pro-Gaddafi forces continued to fire while the talks were going on.
Negotiator Abdullah Kenchil told the BBC the loyalists had wanted anti-Gaddafi forces to enter the town unarmed.Negotiator Abdullah Kenchil told the BBC the loyalists had wanted anti-Gaddafi forces to enter the town unarmed.
Civilians in the town could not move, he said, and he feared they could be shot in revenge or used as human shields.Civilians in the town could not move, he said, and he feared they could be shot in revenge or used as human shields.
As well as being a Gaddafi stronghold, Bani Walid is also the home of the biggest and most powerful Libyan tribe, the Warfalla.As well as being a Gaddafi stronghold, Bani Walid is also the home of the biggest and most powerful Libyan tribe, the Warfalla.
The whereabouts of Col Gaddafi remain unclear, but Mr Kenchil said his son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi had only left the town on Saturday, heading to an unknown destination further south.The whereabouts of Col Gaddafi remain unclear, but Mr Kenchil said his son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi had only left the town on Saturday, heading to an unknown destination further south.
Mr Jalil, who is chairman of the NTC, said the pro-Gaddafi bastions were being given humanitarian aid and time to surrender "to avoid further bloodshed".Mr Jalil, who is chairman of the NTC, said the pro-Gaddafi bastions were being given humanitarian aid and time to surrender "to avoid further bloodshed".
For now, the NTC is preaching a gospel of reconciliation, says BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen, who is Tripoli. The NTC do not want to start off as a government with a bloody fight in Bani Walid, he says.For now, the NTC is preaching a gospel of reconciliation, says BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen, who is Tripoli. The NTC do not want to start off as a government with a bloody fight in Bani Walid, he says.
Bani Walid is one of four towns and cities - the others are Jufra, Sabha and Col Gaddafi's birthplace in Sirte - that are still controlled by Gaddafi forces.
Documents uncovered in Tripoli show a close relationship between Western intelligence agencies and Col Gaddafi's government, which is known to have used torture.Documents uncovered in Tripoli show a close relationship between Western intelligence agencies and Col Gaddafi's government, which is known to have used torture.
The documents mention the names of several people targeted for rendition - the extrajudicial arrest and transfer of terrorism suspects - including Tripoli's new rebel military commander, Abdel Hakim Belhaj.The documents mention the names of several people targeted for rendition - the extrajudicial arrest and transfer of terrorism suspects - including Tripoli's new rebel military commander, Abdel Hakim Belhaj.
Mr Belhaj, who has been congratulated by UK Prime Minister David Cameron for his role in ousting Col Gaddafi's government from Tripoli, says he wants an apology from London and Washington.Mr Belhaj, who has been congratulated by UK Prime Minister David Cameron for his role in ousting Col Gaddafi's government from Tripoli, says he wants an apology from London and Washington.
After Col Gaddafi came in from the cold, Libya and its prison system became an important part of the war on terror, our correspondent says.After Col Gaddafi came in from the cold, Libya and its prison system became an important part of the war on terror, our correspondent says.
Shortly before the fall of Tripoli, a close advisor to Col Gaddafi told our correspondent that MI6 had been working them in the Libyan capital right up until the start of the uprising, in February.Shortly before the fall of Tripoli, a close advisor to Col Gaddafi told our correspondent that MI6 had been working them in the Libyan capital right up until the start of the uprising, in February.
Are you in Libya? How have you been affected by recent events? Please send us your comments using the form below.Are you in Libya? How have you been affected by recent events? Please send us your comments using the form below.
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