Tunisia prime minister announces freeze on Muammar Gaddafi's assets

Tunisia's Prime Minister Beji Caid Sebsi announced on Wednesday a freeze on assets belonging to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, saying the move was "the least we can do".

Western countries, the United Nations and the European Union have already frozen Libyan government and Gaddafi family assets as part of a package of sanctions imposed after Libya's crackdown on a revolt against Gaddafi's rule.

Speaking in an interview with Tunisia''s main TV channels, Sebsi said: "We had no problems making that decision."

A Tunisian government source said last week Tunisia had frozen assets belonging to the Gaddafi family.

The move is likely to have a significant impact as Libya has dozens of investments in Tunisia, including hotels, a chain of petrol stations and a stake in an oil terminal.

Most of those assets are owned by Libyan state investment vehicles, but many of these are de facto controlled by members of Gaddafi's family.

Tunisia is also used by Libya's elite as a base for banking, vacations and healthcare, a practice which dates back to the 1980s and 1990s when international sanctions on Libya meant they had limited access to these services at home.