Moammar Gadhafi's body was buried overnight in a secret location, a Libyan military council member said Tuesday.

Four or five military vehicles took away the bodies of Gadhafi, his son Muatassim and former Defense Minister Abu Bakr Younis late Monday night to an unknown location. Three religious leaders loyal to Gadhafi performed a ceremony before the burial.

Gadhafi's family wanted the bodies buried outside the former leader's hometown of Sirte. National Transitional Council leaders had expressed a preference for a secret burial. Determined to prevent Gadhafi's grave becoming a shrine for his supporters, the NTC wanted its location kept secret, refusing custody to his tribe, many of whom live in Sirte.

Questions have been raised over the former leader's death after a video showed him being alive at the time of capture. Officials said he had been killed subsequently in crossfire. A postmortem examination carried out on the 69-year-old's body Sunday showed that he had received a bullet wound to the head, medical sources said.

Acting Libyan leader Mustafa Abdul Jalil said the NTC had formed a committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death. Meanwhile, the bodies of soldiers who had been loyal to Gadhafi were being buried in Misrata.

The death certificate of Muammar Gaddafi is seen in Misrata October 21, 2011. The certificate reads, quotCivil Record Office Popular Office Misrata, Informing of a Death, Name Moammar, Father Mohammed, Grandfather Abu Mithyar, Surname Gaddafi, Sex
The death certificate of Muammar Gaddafi is seen in Misrata October 21, 2011. The certificate reads, "Civil Record Office Popular Office: Misrata, Informing of a Death, Name: Moammar, Father: Mohammed, Grandfather: Abu Mithyar, Surname: Gaddafi, Sex: Male, Nationality: Libyan, Religion: Muslim, Branch: Tripoli, Date of Death: 20-10-2011 which comes on Thursday October 20, Medical Report: A firing weapon which led to an injury to the left of the head as well as the middle of the chest. There is also evidence of a surgery to the abdominal on the left side, another on the right hand side and a third on the left leg, All surgeries are old, Name of doctor who performed the examination and identified the cause: Majdi Hassan, Place: outside the hospital, Date: 20-10-2011 Thursday". Reuters
People walk in a cemetery where soldiers loyal to former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi are being buried in Misrata October 25, 2011.
People walk in a cemetery where soldiers loyal to former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi are being buried in Misrata October 25, 2011. Reuters
A man looks at empty coffins in a cemetery where soldiers loyal to former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi are being buried in Misrata October 25, 2011.
A man looks at empty coffins in a cemetery where soldiers loyal to former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi are being buried in Misrata October 25, 2011. Reuters
Men inspect about 45 bodies found in Bani Hawal cemetery in Sirte October 25, 2011.
Men inspect about 45 bodies found in Bani Hawal cemetery in Sirte October 25, 2011. Reuters
Libya