BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have visited Libya, praising the bravery of the Libyan people and pledging continued support for the National Transitional Council (NTC) goal of creating a peaceful and democratic state.
Cameron and Sarkozy are the most senior Western leaders to visit Libya since Muammar Gaddafi was ousted.
Their countries were at the forefront of NATO‘s Libyan operation.
They met National Transitional Council (NTC) leaders in Tripoli, and then flew to Benghazi to speak in the former rebel stronghold’s Liberty Square.
NTC chief, Mustafa Abdul Jalil, thanked the two leaders for taking “brave positions” during the Libyan uprising.
“They showed us political, economic and military support which helped the rebels establish a state, and we thank France and the UK for that,” he told a Tripoli news conference.
On Wednesday, Abdul Jalil had appealed for weapons to help the NTC take the few areas of Libya still loyal to Col Gaddafi, telling the BBC the fugitive leader was in the country’s south, plotting his revenge.
Responding to Jalil’s welcome, Cameron said: “The fact that roads are full of traffic, your water is flowing, your hospitals are working, this is impressive.“
“But... Gaddafi is still at large. We must keep on with the NATO mission until civilians are all protected and this work is finished.
“We will help you find Gaddafi and bring him to justice, and we will help you take dangerous weapons such as mines and surface-to-air missiles out of Libya.”
Also, Sarkozy urged Libyans to avoid “vengeance and retaliation”, calling on them to preserve unity and seek reconciliation.
He said France’s focus was on consolidating the position of the NTC and pursuing the last remnants of the Gaddafi regime, rather than focusing on economic deals or reconstruction contracts.
Cameron and Sarkozy arrived in Libya earlier yesterday and flew by helicopter to a hospital where they were greeted by crowds of cheering staff and patients.
The two leaders are hugely popular in Libya, where common graffiti slogans include: “Merci Sarkozy!” and “Thank you Britain!”
Their visit had been under consideration for several weeks, according to report.
Initially, the plan had been to wait until security had improved across Libya, but the trip was brought forward to show support for the NTC after its arrival in Tripoli at the weekend.
Cameron, who is accompanied by UK Foreign Minister William Hague, was set to announce that Britain is to deploy a UK military team to advise the NTC on security; return Libyan assets totalling £500m ($790m) to the interim authorities as soon as possible; make 50 places available in UK specialist hospitals for critically ill Libyans; provide £600,000 for de-mining efforts and £60,000 to pay for a police communications system
The UK on Wednesday circulated a draft resolution to the UN Security Council that would ease UN sanctions against Libya. Many UN countries – including all five permanent members of the Security Council – have recognised the NTC as Libya’s legitimate authority. But the African Union, which met on Wednesday evening, has yet to do so.
Sarkozy is reportedly travelling with 160 security officers, mostly from the specialist CRS riot squad.
Cameron and Sarkozy are the most senior Western leaders to visit Libya since Muammar Gaddafi was ousted.
Their countries were at the forefront of NATO‘s Libyan operation.
They met National Transitional Council (NTC) leaders in Tripoli, and then flew to Benghazi to speak in the former rebel stronghold’s Liberty Square.
NTC chief, Mustafa Abdul Jalil, thanked the two leaders for taking “brave positions” during the Libyan uprising.
“They showed us political, economic and military support which helped the rebels establish a state, and we thank France and the UK for that,” he told a Tripoli news conference.
On Wednesday, Abdul Jalil had appealed for weapons to help the NTC take the few areas of Libya still loyal to Col Gaddafi, telling the BBC the fugitive leader was in the country’s south, plotting his revenge.
Responding to Jalil’s welcome, Cameron said: “The fact that roads are full of traffic, your water is flowing, your hospitals are working, this is impressive.“
“But... Gaddafi is still at large. We must keep on with the NATO mission until civilians are all protected and this work is finished.
“We will help you find Gaddafi and bring him to justice, and we will help you take dangerous weapons such as mines and surface-to-air missiles out of Libya.”
Also, Sarkozy urged Libyans to avoid “vengeance and retaliation”, calling on them to preserve unity and seek reconciliation.
He said France’s focus was on consolidating the position of the NTC and pursuing the last remnants of the Gaddafi regime, rather than focusing on economic deals or reconstruction contracts.
Cameron and Sarkozy arrived in Libya earlier yesterday and flew by helicopter to a hospital where they were greeted by crowds of cheering staff and patients.
The two leaders are hugely popular in Libya, where common graffiti slogans include: “Merci Sarkozy!” and “Thank you Britain!”
Their visit had been under consideration for several weeks, according to report.
Initially, the plan had been to wait until security had improved across Libya, but the trip was brought forward to show support for the NTC after its arrival in Tripoli at the weekend.
Cameron, who is accompanied by UK Foreign Minister William Hague, was set to announce that Britain is to deploy a UK military team to advise the NTC on security; return Libyan assets totalling £500m ($790m) to the interim authorities as soon as possible; make 50 places available in UK specialist hospitals for critically ill Libyans; provide £600,000 for de-mining efforts and £60,000 to pay for a police communications system
The UK on Wednesday circulated a draft resolution to the UN Security Council that would ease UN sanctions against Libya. Many UN countries – including all five permanent members of the Security Council – have recognised the NTC as Libya’s legitimate authority. But the African Union, which met on Wednesday evening, has yet to do so.
Sarkozy is reportedly travelling with 160 security officers, mostly from the specialist CRS riot squad.
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