London, Oct 23 (IANS): Libya's acting Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril wished the ex-leader Muammar Gaddafi remained alive and was prosecuted by him.

During the BBC's Hardtalk programme, Jibril said: "To be honest with you at the personal level I wish [Col Gaddafi] was alive."

He said he had wanted to ask the former leader why Libya had to endure 42 years of oppression under his rule.

"I want to know why he did this to the Libyan people," he said.

"I wish I were his prosecutor in his trial," said Jibril while stating that he would welcome a full investigation into the colonel's death - as the UN has urged.

The statement comes as Libya's new leaders prepare to declare the country's liberation later Sunday. They have come under pressure to give a full account of Gaddafi's death in his hometown of Sirte Thursday.

UN human rights Commissioner Navi Pillay has called for a full investigation, as have major human rights groups.

Video footage showed Gaddafi being captured alive - and then dead. Officials say he was killed in crossfire.

The US has stated that the probe should be done in an "open and transparent manner".