Tripoli: Saif Al Islam, the son widely tipped to succeed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, on Friday denied he was locked in a power struggle with his brothers.
"There is no disagreement or power struggle with my brothers" as reported in the media, Saif Al Islam said in a statement obtained by AFP, stressing he maintained a "good relationship" with his family.
In the statement, the eldest son of the long-serving Libyan leader said he "had no power" in his country and had no "influence" on the government.
The comments came after the influential charity Saif Al Islam heads announced last week it would no longer champion the cause of domestic reform but instead focus on aid to sub-Saharan Africa.
The Gaddafi Foundation's abandonment of its political role as well as the detention of journalists working for the Al Ghad publishing company, which Saif Al Islam sponsors, sparked reports of a power struggle between reformers and conservatives in Libya.
US diplomatic cables released by whistleblowing website WikiLeaks have pointed to an apparent power struggle between Saif Al Islam and his brother Moatassem.
Although he holds no official position, Saif Al Islam has since 2007 led efforts to reform the country, which has been ruled by his father since 1969. But his programme has suffered setbacks, particularly with media reforms.
