Nice work, NATO.

TRIPOLI, Libya — The corridors of Tripoli’s five-star hotels are filled with suave rebel leaders in smart suits giving interview to the foreign media and meeting with foreign dignitaries. But at the checkpoints around the country and at the mopping up operations against the last Gaddafi strongholds, it’s Islamists who are in command.

During the six-month civil war, Islamists were on the frontlines in the eastern Libyan town of Benghazi and in the western mountains, leading inexperienced youth in bloody battles that resulted, with the help of NATO, to oust Gaddafi. Along the way, they have earned the respect among their fellow rebels for their passion, discipline and courage.

Now, as the National Transitional Council (NTC) begins the work of forming a government, the Islamists are looking to play just as big a role – if not bigger – in post-Gaddafi Libya. The NTC began three days of talks on Sunday in the capital of Tripoli about the shape of a cabinet that will include a premier, a vice premier and 22 ministers.

A battle is raging between officials from the NTC, backed by their tribal and militia allies, and Islamist leaders, who are determined not to let what they regard as their revolution be hijacked by Western-backed groups. The outsized presence of the Islamists in the field gives them a strong hand in the negotiations.

Islamists have been pushed aside from the highest-profile political events marking the rise of post-Gaddafi Libya, such as the speech by NTC leader Abdel Jalil Mustafa in Martyrs’ Square, or visits by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron. That has garnered strong resentment in Islamist circles.

Jalil, a former Islamist leader, respected for his messages of tolerance and reconciliation, attempted to ease the tensions that have been swelling since Gaddafi was ousted a month ago. During his famous speech at the Martyrs’ Square, Jalil declared that legislation would be based on Islamic law (sharia), but not an extreme form of it.

“We are a Muslim nation, with a moderate Islam, and we will maintain that. You are with us and support us — you are our weapon against whoever tries to hijack the revolution,” Jalil told the crowds assembled at what was formerly Green Square, which Gaddafi used over his four-decade rule to address the nation.

Gaddafi was known for his iron fist policy towards Islamists, outlawing their organizations and executing many of their followers. At the start of the revolution, the Libyan dictator warned that if he were ousted, Libya risked becoming a base for operatives of al-Qaida to launch attacks on Europe from the Mediterranean shores.

Western officials ignored his warnings, but since his fall from power they have raised the alarm of possible anarchy that could lead to the country fall under control of Islamist groups, mainly al-Qaida. In the neighboring countries of Egypt and Tunisia, both of whose leaders were ousted this year, Islamist groups proved to be the most organized and ready to take over.