A mass grave has been found near Abu Salim prison in the Libyan capital Tripoli containing the remains of 1,270 bodies, Al Jazeera television reported today.
The government of ousted leader Muammar Gadafy used Abu Salim prison, in the south of Tripoli, to detain its opponents, including many who rose up against his rule during the civil war.
The prison was the scene of a massacre in 1996 when, according to human rights groups, about 2,000 inmates were killed.
"We are dealing with more than 1,270 martyrs and must distinguish each one from the other for identification by comparing their DNA with family members," said Dr Osman Abdul Jalil, a medical official.
"It may take years to reach the truth."
To the east of the capital, Nato bombers hammered the city of Sirte to clear the way for fighters with the National Transitional Council who are trying to capture Gadafy's hometown.
But Gadafy loyalists showed they were still a threat by attacking the desert oasis town of Ghadames, on the border with Algeria. The interim government said the attacks had been repulsed but some reports said fighting was still going on.
Agencies