The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is investigating reports that a Sydney Muslim leader who travelled to Libya to fight for democracy is dead.
Consular officials are in contact with the family of Sheik Naser Zuway in Australia as the DFAT investigates reports an Australian man has been killed in Libya.
Sheik Zuway, president of the Australian Union of Africa and Arab Associations, arrived in Australia from Libya as a political refugee in 1999, he told the ABC in March.
In February, he travelled to Benghazi to protect his wife and children who were holidaying in the city as the Libyan uprising began.
When he arrived he decided to stay and fight.
He said in the ABC interview he would not return to Sydney until Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was defeated.
"I just ... see my family at night only, sometimes in the morning," he said.
"All the time here trying to help the people with food, money, cleaning the streets, you know, working with the media trying to translate.
"I'm prepared to die for the sake of freedom and justice and to see our country taking their place in the world and Gaddafi to leave Libya.
"It's not better for the Libyan only. It's better for the Australian, better for the Europe, better for the entire world."
Muslim leader Keysar Trad told the Sydney Morning Herald that Sheik Zuway's family in Australia was awaiting official confirmation of his death.
A condolence ceremony attended by major Muslim leaders was being arranged for Thursday afternoon pending confirmation of his death.
