This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-africa-16230267
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Pentagon's Panetta 'confident' in Libya government | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has expressed confidence in Libya's new government on a visit to the country. | |
He said Libya needed to unite fractious rebel groups, secure arms caches and build democratic institutions. | |
"This will be a long and difficult transition, but I am confident that you will succeed," he told a joint news conference with Prime Minister Abdurrahim al-Keib. | |
His short visit is the first by a Pentagon chief to Libya. | |
It follows a UN decision on Friday to lift sanctions on Libya's central bank and its investments subsidiary - which the BBC's Jon Donnison in Tripoli describes as a sign of confidence in the country's interim government. | |
The move cleared the way for Libya's new government to gain control of tens of billions of dollars frozen overseas, which it needs to pay public sector workers, rebuild war-torn towns and enhance its authority. | |
But Libya's competing factions - many of whom remain heavily armed - will want to be sure they get their share of the money, says our correspondent. | |
Referring to fractious rebel groups who are still a visible presence on Libya's streets two months after Col Gaddafi's death, Mr Panetta said he was confident Libya's interim authorities knew how to bring them together. | |
Mr Keib said uniting the rebel factions was a serious issue, and that programmes were being designed to attract "freedom fighters" to build a better future for Libya through opportunities other than carrying arms. | |
Pirate ships | Pirate ships |
During his hours-long trip, the Pentagon chief is set to visit the reported graveyard of 13 US sailors killed in 1804 during a mission to destroy pirate ships in Tripoli's harbour. | |
The interim government in Tripoli had recently stepped up calls for the release of some $150bn (£96bn) held abroad to pay employee salaries and keep the country's basis services running. | The interim government in Tripoli had recently stepped up calls for the release of some $150bn (£96bn) held abroad to pay employee salaries and keep the country's basis services running. |
The UN, US and UK had imposed sanctions against former leader Col Muammar Gaddafi's regime after it tried to crush the popular uprising against him. | The UN, US and UK had imposed sanctions against former leader Col Muammar Gaddafi's regime after it tried to crush the popular uprising against him. |
The uprising virtually shut Libya's oil industry - the world's eight largest - and exports only resumed in September. | The uprising virtually shut Libya's oil industry - the world's eight largest - and exports only resumed in September. |
Officials say they expect crude oil output to return to normal levels of around 1.6m barrels per day by the end of 2012. | Officials say they expect crude oil output to return to normal levels of around 1.6m barrels per day by the end of 2012. |