Gaddafi’s bloodied body lies in cold storage

MUAMMAR GADDAFI’S body lay in an old meat store in a shopping centre as arguments over a burial, and his killing after being captured, dogged efforts by Libya’s new leaders to make a formal start on a new era of democracy.

A bullet wound visible through his long, curly hair, the corpse in Misrata appeared to be an object of wrangling among the factions of fighters who overthrew him — along with control of weapons and of Libya’s oil wealth.

Libyans, and the Western allies who backed their revolt against Gaddafi’s 42-year rule, which ended two months ago, have indicated their impatience to begin what the United States declared was a democratic “new era.”