Mustafa Abdul Jalil, the chairman of the Nation Transitional Council, has spoken out on the problem of institutional corruption in the beleaguered country.
Speaking to a press conference in Tripoli, the man widely tipped to be Libya’s next leader said the NTC would announce to everyone the names of the people involved in unlawful activities.
“Their punishment will be severe,’ he said. “I call upon all the free people of Libya to bring to our notice any financial corruption wherever it is.”
“Additionally, it must be said that any official is responsible for his own decisions and will bare the responsibility for his bad decisions.”
He has also set out the NTC’s current military position, in which rebel forces have laid siege to the remaining Gaddafi strongholds.
“With God’s grace we are in a position of strength at the moment. Will can enter any city… but because of out desire to avoid bloodshed and to avoid more destruction of national institutions, we have given an extension period of one week.”
Rebel forces currently surround the towns of Bani Walid and Sirte and the southern city of Sabha.
“This extension does not mean we are unaware of what Gaddafi accomplices are up to,” said Jalil.
“Our forces have moved militarily to surround these cities until the end of this period of extension,” he continued.
“This is an opportunity for these cities to announce their peaceful joining of the revolution.”
“We have commenced since yesterday to provide humanitarian aid to these cities and to connect them with communications and electricity and we are waiting for their reply in this regard.”
The National Transitional Council is expected to move its headquarters from Benghazi to Tripoli on Wednesday.
Earlier today, files were found revealing embarrassingly close ties between the Gaddafi regime and MI6 and the CIA. The discovery came following a raid on the office of Moussa Koussa, Gaddafi’s former right-hand man.
Speaking on Sky News, British Foreign Secretary William Hague played down the findings, saying: “This is purely a matter for previous Labour Government. I have no knowledge of what was happening behind scenes. Also, we don’t comment on matters of intelligence… What we are focused on is helping Libya and getting recognition for the NTC... These are the big issues.
In Libya, Gaddafi appears to be determined to carry on the battle.
"We will fight them everywhere," he reportedly said. "We will burn the ground under their feet ... Get ready to fight the occupation."
According to Reuters, the Chinese Government is obstructing the release of Libya's frozen assets.