Libya Moves Towards Democracy?

The BBC is running this story today, regarding the re-trial of 85 Muslim Brothers members arrested in the late 1990s and tried by Libya's recently abolished 'People's Court'. The significance of this? Well in recent months, thanks to Seif al-Islam Gaddafi (thats the Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi's son) Libya has really started to open up. Miny Gaddafi has asked for exiled Libyans to return, and help form a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and even lauded elected government.

So what is to be made of this? Well its questionable how much influence Seif has. He may be able to make such comments without fear of reprisals due to his family ties. Alternatively, as many speculate, he could be Libya's answer to Gamal Mubarak. Merely attempting to clean up Libya's image to encourage investment and to soften the blow of his eventual succession. Interesting nonetheless.