As Tripoli fell, Mr Belhadj appeared on Al-Jazeera in front of the gates of Bab al-Azizia, the Gaddafi family compound, and quickly became one of the city’s dominant figures, being appointed head of the local military council.

He claims he was offered the post of defence minister in the interim government announced this week, but turned it down as he wants to go into a less military, more political position after elections are held. Many people expect him to run for president, though his office has not confirmed this.

A spokesman for Mr Belhaj said that he had gone to Istanbul on “an important mission” and had been able to board his original plane after the incident.

He dismissed as “complete lies” the speculation that circulated the city overnight, saying that he was either trying to escape the country or was found with a large sum of cash.