Gaddafi-in-hiding vows to fight ‘until victory’

"All that remains for us is the struggle until victory and the defeat of the coup," Gaddafi was cited as saying on Syrian-based Arrai TV.

However, whereas previous messages were audio recordings of Col Gaddafi, this statement was read out on air.

Arrai's owner, Mishan Jabouri, said Gaddafi was still "leading the struggle from Libyan lands, and not from Venezuela, Niger or anywhere else," but that security reasons meant he could not read the message himself, Reuters quoted him as saying.

In the meantime in Tripoli, thousands packed Martyrs' Square to hear Jalil outline his plans for the country, where he said Libya would be governed as a moderate Muslim democracy and the new leadership would not accept any extremist ideology.

He also said women would play an active role in the new government.

"We are a Muslim nation, with a moderate Islam, and we will maintain that. You are with us and support us - you are our weapon against whoever tries to hijack the revolution," he said.

In a separate development, it has been confirmed that Niger's government has said Gaddafi's son Saadi is under surveillance but has not been detained, after he crossed the border into Niger.

"Nothing has changed in the government's position. There is no international search for him. Like the others he is just under surveillance," the spokesman told Reuters news agency.

The comments came after the US state department said Niger had confirmed they would detain Saadi Gaddafi in Niamey, the capital.

Niger's Prime Minister Brigi Rafini said Saadi, among other key-Libyans in Gaddafi’s regime, had been taken in by Niger for "humanitarian reasons" and said none of those known to have crossed the border were being sought by the International Criminal Court.

Fighting in Bani Walid was halted on Monday, with one commander telling the BBC they were waiting for NATO warplanes to continue their airstrikes, which are targeting the heavy weapons being used by Gaddafi's men inside the town.

Anti-Gaddafi fighters said they lost seven men fighting for Bani Walid after they were betrayed by local people who led them into an ambush.

Fifteen guards were also killed when pro-Gaddafi forces attacked an oil refinery near the town of Ras Lanuf.