Earlier this year it was the venue for a public talent show where Libyans went to show off their skills at everything from freestyle football, abstract paintings and portraits of Hollywood and MTV celebrities, to singing about Islam.

BBC: Libya rediscovers its hidden talent

The musical talent show has changed its judging line-up this year, with Simon Cowell absent for the first time and replaced by Gary Barlow.

BBC: Anton Du Beke and Nancy Dell'Olio

The female audience of this show, I believe, vote for the guys not so much because of their talent, but because of their looks.

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Whatever you may have thought of his act or his persona or his talent or the kind of schmaltzy old-fashioned show business he championed, there was also this: Alberts was an absolute stone professional.

FORBES: Al Alberts