Rebels "Will Use Force To Take Tripoli"

5:42am UK, Monday February 28, 2011

Alex Rossi in Libya

The president of Libya's newly formed National Council has told Sky News that if Tripoli doesn't liberate itself then the rebel army will take it by force.

In an interview with Sky News - his first since being elected - Mustafa Abdul-Jalil appealed to the international community for help.

"Tripoli is fighting against oppression and when it falls the regime will follow. Now the support around Gaddafi is collapsing. What we want is an air embargo to stop Gaddafi bringing in mercenaries."

But mistrust of the international community is still strong. His reaction to the prospect of help from foreign troops wasn't so welcome.

He said "any intervention will be confronted with more force than we are using against Gaddafi."

The former justice minister is respected within the country for trying to expand human rights in Libya.

He was the first minister to resign from government when troops fired on protesters.

Now he says he wants to establish human rights as part of a new constitution.

"What Libyans want is a free democratic state with Islam as its religion but which respects all other religions and renounces violence. We want to establish a state which separates authority and respects the law."

When asked about acts of terrorism perpetrated by the regime he was quick to distance himself. He told me "we renounce all terrorist activities that Gaddafi committed inside and outside Libya."

It is unclear if Mr Abdul-Jalil has the full support of the liberated areas of the country.

He is though already hoping to hold elections within three months.

But with Gaddafi still clinging to power talk of freedom may be premature.