General

Leaders of UK and France visit Libya

Cameron and Sarkozy are most senior Western officials to meet with rebel government

British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited Tripoli on Thursday, becoming the most senior Western officials to visit Libya after the fall of the Gadhafi regime. The two leaders met with leaders of the National Transitional Council (NTC) in the capital, and are scheduled to fly to Benghazi to deliver speeches from that city’s Liberty Square. Benghazi was the main stronghold of the former rebels as they waged their campaign against forces loyal to Gadhafi during Libya’s months-long civil war. In Tripoli, NTC leader Mustafa Abdul Jalil thanked the two countries for taking “brave positions” during NATOs bombing campaign against Gadhafi forces. Cameron pledged continued support, vowed to help bring Gadhafi to justice and remove mines and “dangerous weapons” from the country. For his part, Sarkozy urged Libyans to seek reconciliation and avoid “vengeance and retaliation.”

BBC News

 

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