Libyans pledge democracy as they win Gaddafi billions
New leadership reaffirms commitment to good governance as they work on how to spend billions they have been given from frozen assets.
By REUTERSFriends of Libya conference (photo credit: REUTERS)
TRIPOLI - Libya's new leadership reaffirmed their commitment to democracy and good governance on Friday as they worked on how to spend billions of dollars they have been given from the frozen assets of fugitive strongman Muammar Gaddafi.A day after international powers met in Paris and agreed to hand over $15 billion to the rebels who overthrew Gaddafi last week, the European Union, a key trading partner, rescinded a range of sanctions and officials from the National Transitional Council told financiers about their initial rebuilding plans.RELATED:Britain recognizes Libyan rebels, frees assetsThe NTC's representative in London said that work on putting right the damage of 42 years of eccentric one-man rule and of six months of civil war should not wait until Gaddafi is found and the last bastions of armed support for him are defeated."As long as Tripoli, the capital, is stabilised and secure and safe, which it almost is now, and the overwhelming majority of other cities and towns, then Libyans can get on with the process of transition and stabilisation and the new political process," Guma El-Gamaty told the BBC.
In the eastern city of Benghazi, seat of the uprising, an NTC official, speaking privately, said the release of funds by Western powers who are backing them with NATO air strikes meant the NTC now had to show Libyans it was capable of governing:"Before we had the excuse that we didn't have money when things went wrong," he said. "Now we don't have the excuse."Gamaty reaffirmed the council's commitment to a document which lays out what he called a "clear roadmap" to democracy, including a constitution to be drafted within eight months, a referendum and then full elections in 2013."By the end of about 20 months the Libyan people will have elected the leaders they want to lead their country," he said.Click for full Jpost coverage of turmoil in the Middle East
