World leaders meeting in Paris unlocked $15 billion in funds on
Thursday to help Libya's victorious rebels rebuild the war-torn
country as fugitive strongman Muammar Qaddafi issued a new barrage of
threats.
Forty-two years to the day since Qaddafi stormed to power in a coup,
senior envoys from over 60 countries met the leaders of the revolution
that overthrew him to endorse the fledgling regime and offer practical
support.
But they also put the leaders of the National Transitional Council on
notice to pursue a path of reconciliation, despite Qaddafi's latest
message of defiance from his desert hiding place.
The Elysee Palace guest list was a victory in itself for the NTC, as
once sceptical Russia and China and Libya's reluctant neighbour
Algeria agreed to extend their backing to the new government.
It was French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the rebels' most prominent
backer from the outset, who made the announcement that $15 billion of
Libyan overseas assets which had been frozen would now be unblocked.
"Around $15 billion have been immediately unfrozen," he said.
But, speaking alongside the rebels' leader, he also urged the NTC to
begin a "process of reconciliation and forgiveness."
NTC president Mustafa Abdel Jalil said the Libyan people had "proved
their courage and their determination" to the international community
in their fight to topple Qaddafi but he also pleaded for stability.
"Now everything is in your hands," he said in a message to the Libyan
people. "It's up to you to accomplish what we promised: stability,
peace and reconciliation."
The rebels have issued an ultimatum for Kadhafi and his followers to
surrender, amassing troops around his hometown of Sirte for a final
battle.
At the Paris conference, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen
said the alliance would continue its six-month operation in Libya for
as long as the civilian population was in danger.
Qaddafi, who might once have marked the coup anniversary with a
triumphant speech, was reduced to releasing his latest bluster on
tape, vowing: "We will not surrender. We are not women and we are
going to keep on fighting."
While the mood in Paris was upbeat, US Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton sounded a note of caution, urging the rebels to beware
extremism in their own ranks and prevent weapons from falling into the
wrong hands.
"The international community, led by the UN, needs to help the Libyan
people and its leaders pave a path to a sustainable, inclusive
democracy that banishes violence as a political tool and promotes
tolerance," she said.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon said he would work with the Security Council to
agree terms for an immediate United Nations mission to deal with a
possible humanitarian crisis and help rebuild the state.
"Our most immediate challenge is humanitarian," he said.
"Roughly 860,000 people have left the country since February,
including skilled guest workers. Public services are under severe
strain, including hospitals and clinics ...There is a major water
shortage."
Russia -- which opposed NATO's military support for the rebels' battle
to overthrow him -- said it recognised the NTC as Libya's "ruling
authority".
China, which also had reservations about the air campaign, did not go
so far, but said it "respects the choice made by the Libyan people and
attaches importance to the significant position and role played by the
NTC.
However continental heavyweight South Africa was among those continued
to snub the NTC. President Jacob Zuma boycotted the talks and said he
was "not happy" with NATO's campaign.
The African Union has not yet recognised the NTC and the head of the
bloc's executive branch said he wanted guarantees black African
migrants in Libya would not face reprisals.
"The NTC has given us assurances about the African workers in Libya.
We're waiting to see," AU commission president Jean Ping said.
The Algerian turnabout may prove of more immediate practical help in
cutting off a potential Qaddafi escape route.
Libya's larger neighbour has been accused of supplying Qaddafi with
arms and, after members of the fallen leader's family fled there, it
was seen as a likely escape route for the strongman and his loyal
sons.
But Algeria's Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci welcomed the NTC promise
to set up a "government representative of all regions" and added:
"When it has done so, we'll recognise it."
The talks began against the backdrop of a new Qaddafi rant in which he
urged his supporters to keep up their resistance to the rebellion.
"Even if you cannot hear my voice, continue the resistance," he said,
in a message from a secret location. Qaddafi and his son Seif al-Islam
have gone underground since rebels stormed into Tripoli on August
20.
"If they want a long battle, let it be long. If Libya burns, who will
be able to govern it? Let it burn," declared Qaddafi.
Rebel officials say Kadhafi may be in the town of Bani Walid, south of
the capital and still held by loyalist troops, but other reports
suggest he could be in his hometown Sirte or Ghadames, near the
Algerian border.
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