World vows Libya will lead its own transition

PARIS, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- While the international community will steer Libya's Transitional National Council in the right direction, transition is Libyan owned, a British official said.

Paris is hosting international delegates at a conference aimed at clearing the way for a post-war stabilization plan for Libya.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said in a statement the international community would work with the TNC on stabilization plans.

"But this is Libyan led and Libyan owned and that's a very important point," he said.

Moscow emerged Thursday as the latest government to recognize the TNC as the sole governmental authority in Libya. A U.S. State Department official speaking to reporters on background ahead of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's arrival in Paris noted the TNC was in the process of developing a draft constitution for Libya "which would hopefully end at some point down the line in elections."

Tripoli last week fell into rebel hands, leading NATO officials to say the reign of Moammar Gadhafi was "finished."

Gadhafi is on the run but presumably still in Libya. He's wanted on a series of war crimes charges and it emerged this week that his forces summarily executed countless numbers of prisoners during the battle for Tripoli.

Speaking on the 42nd anniversary of the coup that brought him to power, an audio recording reportedly featuring Gadhafi vowed to never surrender.

"Even if you cannot hear my voice, continue the resistance," Gadhafi said, according to al-Jazeera.

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2011/09/01/World-vows-Libya-will-lead-its-own-transition/UPI-23811314899431/.