BBC News with Iain Purdon
The new authorities in Libya have formally declared the liberation of the country at a ceremony in Benghazi outside the
barracks
where the uprising against Colonel Gaddafi began in February. The head of the NTC, Mustafa Abdul Jalil, thanked God for their victory before a massive celebratory crowd. From Benghazi, Jonathan Head.
They came in their thousands back to the place where it all started to celebrate in their customary fashion their extraordinary achievement. Then Mustafa Abdul Jalil, the former judge who now leads Libya, addressed the crowd, calling on them to show tolerance and to work for reconciliation. He also assured the many devout Muslims here that Islam would help to shape their new country. They chose Benghazi for this ceremony as a
tribute
to the role it played in
igniting
and sustaining the revolution. Now the spotlight moves away from here to Tripoli in the west, where the new government will now sit.
The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says a full investigation should be carried out into the death of Colonel Gaddafi. Speaking on American television, she said it was important that the new Libya begin with the rule of law. Meanwhile, there's still uncertainty over what the country's new leaders will do with Colonel Gaddafi's body. Some reports suggest that a high-level meeting will be held in Benghazi to
weigh up
the options. His body remains on display in a cold store in Misrata.