By IANS,
Washington : After the death of Libya’s deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi Thursday, the country faces challenges in the days ahead, experts said.
Gaddafi, who ruled Libya with an iron hand for over 40 years after coming to power in a bloodless coup, died in his hometown Sirte, which was overrun by fighters of the National Transitional Council.
Libyans face a difficult political struggle, CNN quoted Fawaz Gerges, a professor of Middle Eastern politics at the London School of Economics, as saying.
The fighting at Sirte and Bani Walid, which too was under the control of pro-Gaddafi forces, show “some major tribal and regional cleavages” that Libyans will have to bridge in forming a new government, he said.
Those differences “could easily escalate, given the extent and the intensity of differences in Libya”, he added.
Experts also said that consolidation of control on the country’s security situation needs to be carried out.
Christopher Chivvis of the RAND Corporation said: “This means ensuring consensus not only at the top of the rebel coalition, but also ensuring that low-level criminals and gangs don’t take advantage of the weapons that are still circulating to threaten the safety of Libya’s civilian population.”