'Major challenges lie ahead of Libya'

The whereabouts of the elusive 68-year-old Libyan dictator and his family remain unknown.

Press TV has conducted an interview with Riad Bahsoun, a Strategic Affairs Expert, to further talk over the issue.

What will follow is the transcription of that interview.

Press TV: How can we explain the rapid defeat that we have seen from Gaddafi forces when the compound was attacked, where do you think they are now?

Bahsoun: Where they are I don't know exactly, however to explain the rapidity of the falling of the compound, maybe those who where surrounding Gaddafi had overestimated their force, but I believe there were some intelligence, the attack was quite well prepared.

It was a surprise to see that compound which is, as you say, the last strong hold fall as quickly as it did. Now, where Gaddafi is, I think next hours will say where he is, however I believe that everybody agrees now that this is the end.

Press TV: would you say there has been a deal made between Gaddafi and the Islamist?

Bahsoun: I think the deal was considered, there has been discussions, Seif al-Islam himself mentioned the deal, however I don't believe that we can summarize what happened today and the previous day to the implementation of such a deal.

It is not as simple as that, after 40 years of certain type of governance we should not expect a clear guidance about how Libya is going to be governed in the next weeks and by whom. I think there will be some kind of confusion and possibly confrontation. However I don't think that we can say at this point that a deal has been past and Gaddafi has handed over the power to Islamist, there are Islamists among the revolutionaries however there are also groups, also groups from different regents who have sent contingence to the capitol, in particular people from Misratah.

People from Misratah are not necessary Islamist or it is not their main character at least. This is the reason I think that if there is an Islamist component in the overall forces they can be called today revolutionaries, however you cannot say that the power has been handed over by Gaddafi to the Islamist, pushing him into an agreement that was discussed and now implemented. I don't think that we can say that.

Press TV: Do you think that foreign forces are here to stay, is this a NATO war rather than a revolutionary war, will there be a direct military intervention of any kind from the NATO forces. The question is, even if that happens, even if there is a peace monitoring force, is that something that the Libyan people want to happen?

Bahsoun: I think that first of all there is no foreign troops now in Libya, there is NATO that is bombing and has military activities, however there is no troops on the ground and I don't think there is going to be foreign troops in Libya, on the ground, at least in the immediate aftermath of the collapse of the regime.

However, I share the concerns of my colleges, first regarding the importance of al-Qaeda forces among the revolutionaries and second about the resistance that may come from the people who are supporters of Gaddafi.

In any case, within few days we will have a new situation without Gaddafi in Libya and I don't think that the issue will be related to having or not having foreign troops on the ground, the issue will be how is it that the CNT is going to organize the transition process.

The international community, the Arab world, and the Muslim world they are all in support of CNT and in support of having the CNT conducting a peaceful transition. They will give it means; they will give it political support and eventually assistance.

What is going to happen after three, four, five months maybe a year if there is conflict or anything resembling Somalia yes maybe then we will have foreign troops coming over. However we are not there now and I think that today is time for Libyan people who have revolted and rebelled against 42 years of dictatorship, they have won, it is time for triumph, victory, and joy and we will see what will happen within the next week.

Press TV: We know of course that Gaddafi was a dictator but he had been advocating independence specially in terms of energy resources, of course before he made deals with the west, but now that he is about to leave where do you think this will leave those resources and Libya's sovereignty?

Bahsoun: I don't think that Gaddafi has advocated independence, he has advocated personal power. There is a difference between using independence and support of the people, and expressing the willingness of the people as slogans just to exert personal power as a dictator.

I don't think that we can say he has advocated. In regards to sovereignty of Libya, of course, since it was partially a NATO operation, not necessary against the Libyan people as said before, of course there will be interactions between the new government and the international community, in particular France, UK, Europe, and of course the United States.

I think that this interaction can be seen at the same time as a comfort and possibly a threat if the government proves unable to control and conduct a peaceful transition. I think that nothing today can allow us to say that the new government that is going to take place shall not be able to conduct such peaceful transition.

It has the support of entire international community every country today, minute after minute, is now praising and recognizing the new government and the CNT and we cannot say at this point that they have no possibility to remain independent and protect their sovereignty.