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Cameron, Sarkozy visit Libyan capital
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CNTV, Xinhua, September 16, 2011
British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who had arrived in the Libyan capital of Tripoli Thursday, appeared in the east city of Benghazi, in show of supports for the National Transitional Council (NTC).
"The people of Britain salute your courage," Cameron told a cheering crowd in the Tahrir Square in Benghazi, the cradle of the unrest that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi. He said the people in Britain and France will assist the Libyan people in build their country for the future.
Sarkozy called for a united Libya in dressing the Libyan people.
The British prime minister and the French president earlier in the day held a joint press conference with head of the NTC executive office Mahmoud Jibril and NTC Chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil in Tripoli.
Jibril told the news conference that both the British and French leaders have pledged continued protection of the Libyan civilians, assistance in border surveillance, and releasing the frozen Libyan assets.
Jalil, for his part, voiced appreciation for the supports from Britain and France and thanked the positions held by the two countries, adding he is pleased with the visits by the heads of the two governments.
Cameron, whose country and France spearheaded the NATO mission in Libya, told the press conference that NATO will keep on its mission until the civilians are protected and the work completed. He vowed that his countries will help the Libyans hunt down Gaddafi whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Meanwhile, Britain has started the process to release the frozen Libyan assets, said the British prime minister, adding Britain will also assist in rebuilding Libya and restoring stability among others.
Cameron said the British government would manage to release 12 billion pounds (about 19 billion U.S. dollars) in Libyan assets as soon as a UN Security Council resolution on Libya was passed, and a spokesman for Cameron's office said the country will unfreeze another 600 million pounds (944 million dollars) of Libyan assets, aiming at supporting the new leadership in Libya.
French President Sarkozy vowed that as long as peace is threatened in Libya, France is by the side of the Libyan people. " You can count on our friendship and admiration," he said.
Sarkozy added that the Libyan people must know those who committed crimes must face prosecution.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohammed Kamel Amr are also scheduled to visit Libya at a later time.
