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Leaders of Libya's uprising were in Paris Thursday with delegates from 60 countries and world bodies to discuss a roadmap for Libya's humanitarian, political and economic future, even as ex-leader Moammar Gadhafi, in hiding, vowed to fight on.
Thursday marked 42 years since Moammar Gadhafi took power in Libya. But with the longtime ruler now on the run - in an audio message aired Thursday he promised no surrender - world backers of the uprising against him met to plan rebuilding the country along new lines.
The meeting on Libya is hosted by British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. They were joined by dignitaries from around the world, including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Speaking in Paris before the conference, Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague said it shows that the world is coming together to support Libya's future.
"The other thing of course that it provides today - that the conference provides - is an opportunity for the National Transitional Council to set out their plans for the stabilization of Libya and then what they do politically to create a democratic and inclusive Libya," noted Hague.
The "Friends of Libya" conference gives the National Transitional Council (NTC) an international platform.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe told reporters that it is important to have confidence in the NTC leadership.
Juppe said that the international community didn't intervene in Libya for it to fall into another regime that wouldn't respect the fundamental rights of the Libyan people.
The NTC is set to push for access to billions of dollars in foreign-held Libyan assets, which were frozen while Gadhafi held power. The United States, Britain, and France have already been granted permission by the U.N. sanctions committee to unfreeze billions of dollars.
The NTC was also set to lay out plans for a new constitution and elections.
Nicola Pratt,...
Thursday marked 42 years since Moammar Gadhafi took power in Libya. But with the longtime ruler now on the run - in an audio message aired Thursday he promised no surrender - world backers of the uprising against him met to plan rebuilding the country along new lines.
The meeting on Libya is hosted by British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. They were joined by dignitaries from around the world, including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Speaking in Paris before the conference, Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague said it shows that the world is coming together to support Libya's future.
"The other thing of course that it provides today - that the conference provides - is an opportunity for the National Transitional Council to set out their plans for the stabilization of Libya and then what they do politically to create a democratic and inclusive Libya," noted Hague.
The "Friends of Libya" conference gives the National Transitional Council (NTC) an international platform.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe told reporters that it is important to have confidence in the NTC leadership.
Juppe said that the international community didn't intervene in Libya for it to fall into another regime that wouldn't respect the fundamental rights of the Libyan people.
The NTC is set to push for access to billions of dollars in foreign-held Libyan assets, which were frozen while Gadhafi held power. The United States, Britain, and France have already been granted permission by the U.N. sanctions committee to unfreeze billions of dollars.
The NTC was also set to lay out plans for a new constitution and elections.
Nicola Pratt,...