In a bid to take Libya away from its previous 'rogue state' position by catching it on to the environmental bandwagon, an ambitious eco-tourism venture has been launched by the son of Colonel Gaddafi.

On the Mediterranean coast, the Green Mountain conservation area is the favourite project of Saif al-Islam, who has no set representation in the government but has undertaken the role of polishing the overseas image of Libya.

Amid the eye-catching Greek ruins of Cyrene, nicknamed the Athens of Africa, he told to journalists, "I love this area. I have been dreaming about this for a long time".

In several ways, Libya has its international isolation to be grateful for the generally undamaged countryside. Only drawback has been that its riches of antiquity have not been given an appropriate care. A recent visitor to the Temple of Zeus, which was bigger than the Parthenon in Greece in its heyday, was withdrawn to see wild horses amidst the ruins.

But Libya has beaten the group tourism attack of neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt.

Mr Saif al-Islam, who pursued architecture at Al-Fateh University of Tripoli, has again been in study for a doctorate degree at the London School of Economics.

Three years ago, with his plans for the Green Mountains, Mr. al-Islam approached Norman Foster's architecture company.

However, only the time will state whether the plans, which also received support from Professor Nicholas Stern - the climate change expert, will put into concrete form.