Abdel Jalil: Gaddafi planted mistrust in Libya

The president of Libya's ruling National Transitional Council Mustafa Abdel Jalil The president of Libya's ruling National Taransitional Council (NTC), Mustafa Abdel Jalil, has requested Libyans "forget hate and mistrust between them, which was planted by [Muammar] Gaddafi's regime, in intention to create an disunited state between Libyan cities and villages, and even between family members."
Abdel Jalil made the statement during a visit to the city of Galu in a Libya's Oases region. The revolutionary leader praised the role played by the region's people in the revolution, urging them to retain their unity.
"I call for closing ranks and coming together so the whole region can be represented by one local council during the transitional period. After that the Libyan people will decide how they will be represented in the future through drafting a new constitution," said Abdel Jalil.
The NTC leader warned of the proliferation of illegal weapons in the country, calling on all armed groups to join state security institutions.
 "A lot of people think the state had taken control over all the entrances and ports of the country which is untrue. All air, sea, and land ports are under the control of the rebels who didn't hand over their arms nor joined the military or security institutions," said Abdel Jalil.
The Libyan government did however assume control of the country's main international airport from fighters who had been providing security for months in the absence of an official force.
The handover marked a step forward for the struggling NTC as they try to stamp their authority on the country and bring under their control the various armed brigades that helped topple long-time ruler Gaddafi.
Fighters from the powerful Zintan militia had taken control of the airport, the country's main air hub, eight months ago in the closing days of last year's civil war.
In recent months, the fighters had demanded that the government shoulder the responsibility of providing security at the airport and relieve them of the duty, or at least give them uniforms and employ them.
The government promised last month to take over security of the airport, but negotiations broke down.
On Friday, uniformed government troops took control of the airport, and the former rebels fired celebratory gunshots into the air to mark the occasion.
Colonel Ibrahim Hadoud, a defence ministry official, said he would be heading a group of soldiers that will provide security for the airport and a 15km radius around it.
"These guys with me are former rebels who have joined the integration programme by the defense ministry and have been trained," Hadoud said, referring to an effort by the government to encourage former rebels to hand over their weapons in exchange for jobs.
Abdel Jalil also promised to ensure job opportunities for the Oases region's population in its oil fields, saying the government will pay the wages of the rebels who protect the fields.
"I ask rebels not to exploit this offer so that wages will be paid only to those who deserve it," he said.