TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Muammar Gaddafi’s chief spokesman said yesterday the deposed Libyan leader and his family had not helped themselves to Libya’s oil wealth and that they were “among the poorest citizens”.
Speaking to Reuters by telephone from an undisclosed location, Moussa Ibrahim said no one had been able to show that Gaddafi or his family had assets or accounts.
“That is more proof of the honesty and transparency of this family and that they are an ordinary Libyan family,” said Ibrahim, who usually acts as Gaddafi’s contact with the international media.
Gaddafi has been in hiding since fighters trying to end his 42-year rule seized control of the capital last month.
The Gaddafi family are widely known to have led lavish lives.
Singer Nelly Furtado disclosed she was paid $1 million to perform a 45-minute private concert for Gaddafi family members in Italy while Mariah Carey and Beyonce Knowles were booked to play at other family functions.
Switzerland said in May that it had found 360 million Swiss francs ($415.8 million) of potentially illegal assets linked to Gaddafi and his circle stashed in the Alpine country.
