Libya's liberation set to be declared Sunday

Libya's liberation is set to be declared Sunday following the capture and death of Libyan strongman Muammar Gadhafi, according to a military spokesman.

Officials of the National Transitional Council (NTC) said the announcement will be made Saturday in Benghazi, where the revolution began. "The decision has been taken," a National Transitional Council official said. "The declaration of liberation will be in Benghazi, not Tripoli." He said chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil will make the announcement. The declaration is intended to pave the way for a democratic rule in Libya. Following the reported death of Libyan strongman Muammar Gadhafi, NATO has began preparing to scale down its operations in Libya, targeting October 31 as its end date. Meanwhile the burial of the captured Libyan leader is yet to be decided by authorities. According to Irishtimes, "The burial has been delayed for a few days until Libya's new rulers decide where to bury him, the country's interim oil minister has said. "I told them to keep it in the freezer for a few days... to make sure that everybody knows he is dead," Ali Tarhouni said today. Asked about the burial arrangements, including where he would be buried, he said: "There is no decision yet."