NATO Chief in Libya as 7-Month Mission Ends
VOA News
Photo: AFP
Libyan interim Defence Minister Mohammed Dfeynas (R) welcomes NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen upon arrival at Tripoli airport on a surprise visit hours before NATO's air mission was due to end officially, October 31, 2011
NATO's top official has arrived in Tripoli for talks with Libyan authorities on the final day of the alliance's seven-month bombing campaign that helped the former rebels drive Moammar Gadhafi from power.
Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen is holding talks Monday with Libya's National Transitional Council, including chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil. His visit marks the first to Libya by a NATO secretary-general.
Rasmussen told the French news agency discussions will focus on Libya's expectations regarding possible future NATO assistance and the country's roadmap for a transition to democratic rule.
The alliance is set to end its mission in Libya at midnight, Monday Libyan time, after its air campaign to protect civilians under a U.N. Security Council resolution.
NATO formally decided to halt the mission after the U.N. canceled the mandate last week, though Libya's transitional leaders had urged NATO to continue until for a while because of security concerns.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says Libya faces a "huge challenge" to unify the country, and that leaders have a complicated political task ahead of them. But she told The Washington Post the United States and other countries have offered assistance, and will help Libya in any way they can.
Meanwhile, Libya's outgoing provisional prime minister, Mahmoud Jibril, confirmed Sunday the presence of chemical weapons in the country. He did not provide details on chemical weapons sites, but said representatives from international organizations are set to arrive later this week to take care of the issue.
Last week, the top U.N. envoy to Libya, Ian Martin, told the Security Council that previously undeclared chemical weapons sites had been found in Libya.
Provisional leaders declared the country liberated from the 42-year rule of Moammar Gadhafi during a ceremony on October 23. Officials have said they plan to form a new interim government within a month, followed by elections for a constitutional assembly within eight months. Parliamentary and presidential elections would be held within a year after that.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
Related Articles
NATO to End Mission in Libya Next Week
However, NTC leaders urged alliance to extend its mission until end of year to address security concerns
Chân thành cám ơn Quý Anh Chị ghé thăm "conbenho Nguyễn Hoài Trang Blog"
Xin được lắng nghe ý kiến chia sẻ của Quý Anh Chị trực tiếp tại Diễn Đàn Paltalk: 1Latdo Tapdoan Vietgian CSVN Phanquoc Bannuoc .
Kính chúc Sức Khỏe Quý Anh Chị .
conbenho
Tiểu Muội quantu
Nguyễn Hoài Trang
01112011
___________
CSVN là TỘI ÁC
Bao che, dung dưỡng TỘI ÁC là đồng lõa với TỘI ÁC
No comments:
Post a Comment