bashir musaLibya businessman Bashir Musa, a presidential hopeful in the chaotic country, is using AUX Initiatives of Baton Rouge for campaign management duties.

AI is the firm of Ronnie Snows, former Democratic Congressman from Mississippi, and James Creaghan, Louisiana lobbyist who testified in the 2009 bribery trial of ex-Congressman William Jefferson of New Orleans.

The firm's $700K contract calls for candidate representation, including reputation building among US officials, staff and media, according to the firm's federal filing.

Snows and Creaghan signed the agreement, which is dated July 28.

In this month's visit to Washington, Musa, a former prime minister candidate, gave an interview with CQ Roll Call's FivebyFive defense community blog. He told blogger Tim Starks the best way to restore stability to Libya is for the west to share intelligence, freeze financial assets of rebel organizations and threaten "surgical" military strikes if guerrilla groups move heavy weapons.

A presidential election date won't be set until Libya drafts and approves a new constitution.