The National Transitional Council of Libya has begun making plans for how the country will be run in the post-Gaddafi era, even as the former dictator remains at large and fighting continues to rage in parts of the capital, Tripoli.
There were reports on Wednesday night of continuing sporadic resistance in some neighbourhoods. Gunfire exchanges between those still loyal to Gaddafi and the rebels who have swept into Tripoli could be heard across the city. Al-Jazeera reported that snipers loyal to the despot were camped out in forests outside the city.
In a sign that Libya remained highly unstable, despite the removal of Gaddafi from power, the Italian government announced on Wednesday night that four of its journalists had been kidnapped near the town of Zawiyah. Their driver was killed in the abduction.
Despite the continuing chaos Western governments have been keen to ensure that the leaders of the National Transitional Council are brought into the international fold.
Its leader - and assumed incoming leader of the new government of Libya - Mustafa Abdul Jalil, has been invited to an international conference on the future of Libya in Paris next Thursday.
In London a spokesperson at No.10 Downing Street said:
"This will be an opportunity for the NTC to set out how the international community can help them on the path to establishing a free, democratic and inclusive Libya and for all those who wish to support Libya to discuss the role that
they can play to support this.
"We have stood firmly by the Libyan people since their uprisings began six months ago and we will continue to lead international efforts to help them achieve their aspirations in the weeks and months ahead."
Leaders from around the world are expected to attend the conference in Paris, which will co-incide with the anniversary of Gaddafi assuming power in the country more than 40 years ago.
Earlier in the day Mustafa Abdul Jalil promised that Libya would see free and fair elections within eight months, adding that he wanted to see Gaddafi stand trial within Libya. He would not be drawn on whether Gaddafi might in principle be sent to the International Criminal Court in the Hague.
On Thursday the rebels could possibly mount an assault on Gaddafi's home town of Sirte, amid speculation that he could be hiding there. Rebel forces were said to be close to the coastal city. However in a desert country as large and as Libya, the number of places he could be hiding are as numerous as his potential avenues for escape.