David Cameron Arrives in Libya
David Cameron has landed in Tripoli in the first visit of a major Western leader to Libya since the fall of Col Muammar Gaddafi.
Mr Cameron, the Prime Minister, was joined by
Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, on a visit to meet
Libya's new leaders.
After his plane landed, Mr Cameron was greeted at Tripoli airport by Mr Jalil and the head of the NTC's executive board Mahmoud Jibril, as well as the UK's special representative Dominic Asquith.
The leaders are expected to announce a package of assistance to support the country's transition after the end of Gaddafi's 42-year-rule.
Politicians have already had to counter allegations that the visits are intended to guarantee valuable deals for British and French firms.
Francois Baroin, the French finance minister, said the trip was not about economic deals but rather to show support for the rebels.
Mr Baroin, speaking on France-Info radio, said it "is a strong gesture, it is a historic moment to go today to Libya".
Asked whether there were economic arguments for the visit, Mr Baroin said: "We are not at that stage."
Earlier this month, the leaders of the National Transitional Council
dismissed suggestions that promises of big deals had been made to Western countries in return for military support.
The visit of the two leaders is, as might be expected, surrounded by secrecy and tight security.
The rebel fighters were reported to have attempted to clear an area of 30 square kilometres of weapons to try to guarantee the politicians' safety.
Mr Sarkozy, who was expected to be accompanied by French philosopher
Bernard-Henri Levy, seen by many as a driving force behind the French decision to take military action against Gaddafi, will fly to Tripoli first and then the rebel stronghold of Benghazi.
Jeffrey Feltman,
the US assistant secretary of state on Wednesday became the most senior international visitor to arrive in Tripoli since the fall of Col Gaddafi.
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The Telegraph