Austrian expert warns of new conflicts in Libya

Austrian Islam-expert Amer al-Bayati warned Sunday that the death of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi didn't mean the situation in Libya was stable, saying new cconflicts even a civil war could break out in the country. In an interview with Austrian Presse Agency (APA), he said that Libya would not have a powerful government at least in a foreseeable future. The current Libyan National Transitional Council was "founded spontaneously and without solid foundation," which would make the next government formation become difficult due to political infighting and disagreements, said the expert. Although a consensus would be found, the government would be weak. This would form a political vacuum and forces of foreign countries would become the strongest power in the country, he said. He pointed out that, if foreign forces were caring only about "cake-cutting," the democracy building in that country would be seriously hindered and the situation would be the same as in Iraq -- sham democracy. The Islam-expert didn't rule out that Libya would have a similar situation as that in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein. NATO and the United States always trade at a profit, he said. He also believed that supporters of Gaddafi were still there after his death and they may try to ally themselves with al-Qaeda and radical Islamists in order to protect their own interests. Another uncertainty for the development of Libya was that many weapons were still in the hands of civilians and about half of the weapons would not turned in to the government, he added.