Libya’s new rebel rulers were hailed by world leaders in Paris yesterday and won a promise of a UN state-building mission, as fugitive strongman Muammar Gaddafi issued a new barrage of threats.
Forty-two years to the day since Colonel Gaddafi stormed to power in a coup, senior envoys from 60 countries met the leaders of the revolution that overthew him to endorse the fledgling regime and offer practical support.
The Elysee Palace guest list was a victory in itself for the rebel National Transitional Council, as once sceptical Russia and China and Libya’s reluctant neighbour Algeria agreed to extend their backing to the new government.
The countries meeting in Paris in support of Libya’s rebel interim government yesterday agreed to unblock $15 billion in frozen Libyan funds immediately, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said.
“Today, France unfroze €1.5 billion of Libyan assets,” Mr Sarkozy said, before estimating the total sum released by world powers in the wake of Muammar Gaddafi’s fall: “Around $15 billion have been immediately unfrozen.”
Meanwhile Nato’s operation in Libya will continue for as long as the civilian population there is in danger, the alliance’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and national leaders said.
“We have announced that operations will continue as long as necessary, as long as there is a threat to civilians,” he said, after talks in Paris between Libyan rebel leaders and the international community.
President Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron, whose militaries spearheaded Western support for the rebellion against Col Gaddafi, confirmed that their warplanes would stay in the air, “... as long as we are needed to protect civilian life,” Mr Cameron said.
As the talks began, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he would work with the Security Council to agree terms for an immediate UN mission to deal with a possible humanitarian crisis and help rebuild the state.
“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. Meanwhile, sporadic fighting continues, particularly in the country’s south,” he said, adding that NTC, Arab, African and European leaders had all endorsed his plan.
While the mood was upbeat, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sounded a note of caution, urging the rebels to beware extremism in their own ranks and safeguard seized arms dumps to avoid them falling into the wrong hands.
“Libya’s new leadership will need to continue to stand against violent extremism and work with us to ensure that weapons from Gaddafi’s stockpiles do not threaten Libya’s neighbours and the world,” she said.
The talks began against the backdrop of a new Gaddafi 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. Col Gaddafi 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 Col Gaddafi.
Gonzi calls for quick release of assets
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi called for the unfreezing of Libyan assets around the world to be speeded up when he addressed the Paris summit last night.
He said the National Transitional Council’s priorities were three: that the country returned to security and stability, that it undertook a process of reconciliation and that strong democratic institutions be built.
Dr Gonzi reiterated Malta’s readiness to support these aims and the importance it gave to its role in humanitarian assistance, especially in the area of health.
But for this to happen it was vital that frozen Libyan assets around the world, including in Malta, be released to help fulfil Libya’s needs, he said, adding it was important for this to happen quickly.