The bodies of fallen Libyan dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, and his son, Mo’tassim, were buried in a secret desert location this morning, a National Transitional Council official has told news agencies. This is a good thing, because the stench of the rotting corpses was getting a bit much and decay had set in, forcing officials to close the fridge doors yesterday.

Libya’s new interim leaders have said they intend to make Islamic Sharia law the main source of legislation in the new Libya, and by keeping Gaddafi’s body in a fridge for so long after his death, were beginning to set a really bad example.

Sharia law in Muslim societies varies according to interpretations. It often depends on the political landscape and cultural norms particular to the region, but burial within 24 hours of death is normally customary across the board.

This didn’t happen with Gaddafi, but at least there is no more public display in a meat locker – which another official has confirmed.

Reuters is reporting that a senior interim government official told them:

Gaddafi and the son, Mo’tassim, were buried at dawn in a secret place with proper respects paid. We will release more details officially later.

Gaddafi’s tribal kinsmen from Sirte had been arguing with NTC officials over how the bodies would be disposed of, but it appears no agreement was reached, which led to the NTC doing it themselves.

According to Salem Shaka, who was viewing the bodies in Misrata on Monday, an earlier burial may have been staved off because of the sheer anger harboured by Libyans toward Gaddafi:

God made the pharaoh as an example to the others. If he had been a good man, we would have buried him. But he chose this destiny for himself.

Further reports indicated the burial would have taken place in the presence of four witnesses, and all would be sworn to secrecy, by means of the Koran, never to reveal the location so it didn’t become a shrine.

It’s now hoped that the burials don’t evoke further regional and tribal rivalries that undoubtedly still pose a challenge to the NTC.

[Source: Reuters]