TRIPOLI, August 21, 2008 (AFP) - The son of Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi, Seif al-Islam, late Wednesday announced his withdrawal from political life and called for the building of a 'strong' civil society in Libya.

'I have decided no longer to intervene in state affairs,' he told thousands of young supporters in the town of Sebha 800 kilometres (500 miles) south of the capital Tripoli.

Islam, who has no official function though he is often put forward as his father's successor, said he had been 'obliged to intervene' in political life given the lack of political institutions and a civil service.

In his televised speech he claimed to have solved all the country's problems, nationally and external, mentioning the Lockerbie case and the affair of six Bulgarian medics freed a year ago after almost a decade jailed in Libya on AIDS and misconduct charges.

'I have achieved my programme,' Islam said. 'The train is currently on the rails.'

He called for the building of a 'strong civil society' capable of participating in decision-making.

With the exception of the powerful Kadhafi Foundation run by Seif al-Islam, civil society is just about absent in Libya. Two non-governmental organisations, the Association for Justice and Human Rights and the Centre for Democracy, were recently banned by the Libyan authorities.