\'Ready to join the revolution\'

Al-Baghdadi Ali Al-Mahmoudi London - Zaki Chehab       Former-Libyan Prime Minister Al-Baghdadi Ali Al-Mahmoudi has told Arabs Today in an exclusive interview that he is “joining the revolution.” Al-Mahmoudi has expressed his commitment to Libya and willingness to work with the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC); a move that he claims has been welcomed by Libya´s new leaders.
Al-Mahmoudi has also expressed his disappointment with the clashes that have taken place between Libyans in recent months, and hopes that “Libya will start a new democratic life that our people will enjoy.”
Al-Mahmoudi has confirmed reports that he and his family were held captive by Ghaddafi in recent months, preventing him from contacting the NTC sooner. His family´s passports were also seized to ensure they could not leave the country. He tried to escape two days after the NTC seized Tripoli, but was arrested and detained for another six days until escaping again. Al- Mahmoudi has now made contact with key western countries and the NTC, claiming to have good relations with Libya´s new leaders, including the Chairman of the NTC, Mahmoud Jibril, with whom he has previously worked. Al-Mahmoudi argues that his previous efforts at reform with Jibril were “were always suspended by Ghaddafi.”
 “We were always repressed under the control of Ghaddafi and we didn’t have power to stop the ongoing developments that happened throughout the revolution, however I did all that I could to find a solution.”
He added that he personally “had many contacts with the international world, but Ghaddafi would never compromise to solve the problems.”
Unlike many of his former-colleagues, Al- Mahmoud has denied that he will leave Libya, emphasising that he wants to stay in his country.
“I don’t have anything to be scared of, I’m very satisfied by everything I did for my nation, and I have a clear conscience.”