Libyan Civil War Claims 20 000 Lives - Rebel Leader

Leader of the Libyan opposition Transitional National Council, Mustafa Abdul Jalil, gestures during a press conference with Moroccan Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi-Fihri (not pictured) in Benghazi, Libya, 24 August 2011. EPA/BGNES

The six-month civil war in Libya between dictator Muammar Gaddafi's regime and the rebels has claimed 20 000 lives, according to head of the rebels.

"I do not have the exact figure, but the armed conflict has resulted in more than 20 000 dead," Mustafa Abdel Jalil who is the Chairman the Transitional National Council told reporters in Benghazi, as cited by DPA.

The rebel leader further assured the Libyan people that there had been no use of chemical weapons during the conflict, which started as one of the Arab Spring revolutions in February 2011.

Before defecting to the rebels in February 2011, Jalili served as the Justice Minister of the Gaddafi regime.

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