Libyan interim leader arrives in Tripoli
National Transitional Council (NTC) chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil gestures during a press conference in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on September 3, 2011.
The leader of Libya's interim government, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, has arrived in Tripoli for the first time since his forces seized the capital last month.
Several hundred people were at the airport to welcome Jalil when his plane landed at a military base on Saturday in the city's east.
The BBC reported that Jalil’s presence in the capital was aimed at sending a message about his authority.
Speaking to his supporters at the airport, Jalil said he would only remain in Tripoli temporarily, reported Radio France Internationale.
He said the National Transitional Council headquarters would remain in Benghazi until Libya is under the full control of the council.
Tripoli is our capital and always has been. There is no doubt of that. When total liberty has been established in Libya we will establish a committee to create a constitution – and the text will be submitted to the Libyan people, who will decide.
Jalil warned that while it was “a time for reconciliation”, the battle for Libya was not over.
We cannot easily forget the regime of Muammar Gaddafi. He still holds a lot of money and gold. We must do everything we can to liberate our towns Bani Walid, Sebha and Sirte.
Forces loyal to Libya’s interim leaders have met with firm resistance in Bani Walid, one of the last strongholds of forces loyal to Gaddafi.
They began attacking the city on Saturday morning, after a deadline for surrender expired.
(Read more on GlobalPost: Niger: West and Central Africa a "powder keg" after Gaddafi)
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