Kadhafi killers to face trial, says NTC

Libya's new rulers said on Thursday they would prosecute Moamer Kadhafi’s killers, following the international outcry over the circumstances of his death.

Reuters/Thaier al-Sudani

"With regards to Kadhafi, we do not wait for anybody to tell us," said Abdel Hafiz Ghoga, vice-chair of the ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) at a news conference in Benghazi. "We had already launched an investigation. We have issued a code of ethics in handling of prisoners of war ... Whoever is responsible for that will be judged and given a fair trial."

Footage of Kadhafi being hauled alive out of a drain by NTC fighters and later photos of his bloody corpse have led many to conclude that he was summarily executed.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Wednesday expressed his "disgust" at the global media for its graphic coverage of the ousted leader's death.

"Almost the entire Kadhafi family was killed. His body was shown on all the world channels. You could not watch without disgust," Putin said. "What is that? They show a bloodied man, wounded, still alive but getting beaten to death. And they splash that all over the screen."

France says that the UN will vote on Thursday to end Nato’s mandate for airstrikes on 31 October, leaving the military alliance debating its role in Libya after that.