Syria delivered intel on Gadhafi

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TRIPOLI, Libya, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- The Syrian government helped deliver information used by French authorities to oust Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, former Libyan officials said.

Rami el-Obeidi, a former intelligence official for the faction that helped overthrow Gadhafi's government last year, told The Daily Telegraph newspaper in London that Syrian President Bashar Assad delivered Gadhafi's satellite telephone number to French authorities involved in NATO operations in Libya last year.

"In exchange for this information, Assad had obtained a promise of a grace period from the French and less political pressure on the regime, which is what happened," he said.

Former interim Libyan leader Mahmoud Jibril told the newspaper that a foreign "agent" was involved in the events that led up to Gadhafi's death last year but didn't specify a nationality.

A NATO airstrike hit Gadhafi's convoy in October 2011 as it traveled to Misurata. Gadhafi was captured by rebel forces and later died. Circumstances surrounding his death are unclear.

"French intelligence played a direct role in the death of Gadhafi, including his killing," said Obeidi. "They gave directions that he was to be apprehended, but they didn't care if he was bloodied or beaten up as long as he was delivered alive."

The interim Transitional National Council handed authority to members of the newly elected congress in August. The 200-member assembly was elected in July in the first democratic vote in Libya in about 40 years.