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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Pentagon's Panetta 'confident' in Libya government | Pentagon's Panetta 'confident' in Libya government |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has expressed confidence in Libya's new government on a visit to the country. | US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has expressed confidence in Libya's new government on a visit to the country. |
| He said Libya needed to unite fractious rebel groups, secure arms caches and build democratic institutions. | He said Libya needed to unite fractious rebel groups, secure arms caches and build democratic institutions. |
| "This will be a long and difficult transition, but I am confident that you will succeed," he told a joint news conference with Prime Minister Abdurrahim al-Keib. | "This will be a long and difficult transition, but I am confident that you will succeed," he told a joint news conference with Prime Minister Abdurrahim al-Keib. |
| His short visit is the first by a Pentagon chief to Libya. | His short visit is the first by a Pentagon chief to Libya. |
| It follows a UN decision on Friday to lift sanctions on Libya's central bank and its investments subsidiary - which the BBC's Jon Donnison in Tripoli describes as a sign of confidence in the country's interim government. | It follows a UN decision on Friday to lift sanctions on Libya's central bank and its investments subsidiary - which the BBC's Jon Donnison in Tripoli describes as a sign of confidence in the country's interim government. |
| The move cleared the way for Libya's new government to gain control of tens of billions of dollars frozen overseas, which it needs to pay public sector workers, rebuild war-torn towns and enhance its authority. | The move cleared the way for Libya's new government to gain control of tens of billions of dollars frozen overseas, which it needs to pay public sector workers, rebuild war-torn towns and enhance its authority. |
| But Libya's competing factions - many of whom remain heavily armed - will want to be sure they get their share of the money, says our correspondent. | But Libya's competing factions - many of whom remain heavily armed - will want to be sure they get their share of the money, says our correspondent. |
| Referring to fractious rebel groups who are still a visible presence on Libya's streets two months after Col Gaddafi's death, Mr Panetta said he was confident Libya's interim authorities knew how to bring them together. | Referring to fractious rebel groups who are still a visible presence on Libya's streets two months after Col Gaddafi's death, Mr Panetta said he was confident Libya's interim authorities knew how to bring them together. |
| Mr Keib said uniting the rebel factions was a serious issue, and that programmes were being designed to attract "freedom fighters" to build a better future for Libya through opportunities other than carrying arms. | Mr Keib said uniting the rebel factions was a serious issue, and that programmes were being designed to attract "freedom fighters" to build a better future for Libya through opportunities other than carrying arms. |
| Pirate ships | Pirate ships |
| During his hours-long trip, the Pentagon chief is set to visit the reported graveyard of 13 US sailors killed in 1804 during a mission to destroy pirate ships in Tripoli's harbour. | During his hours-long trip, the Pentagon chief is set to visit the reported graveyard of 13 US sailors killed in 1804 during a mission to destroy pirate ships in Tripoli's harbour. |
| The interim government in Tripoli had recently stepped up calls for the release of some $150bn (£96bn) held abroad to pay employee salaries and keep the country's basis services running. | The interim government in Tripoli had recently stepped up calls for the release of some $150bn (£96bn) held abroad to pay employee salaries and keep the country's basis services running. |
| The UN, US and UK had imposed sanctions against former leader Col Muammar Gaddafi's regime after it tried to crush the popular uprising against him. | The UN, US and UK had imposed sanctions against former leader Col Muammar Gaddafi's regime after it tried to crush the popular uprising against him. |
| The uprising virtually shut Libya's oil industry - the world's eighth largest - and exports only resumed in September. | |
| Officials say they expect crude oil output to return to normal levels of around 1.6m barrels per day by the end of 2012. | Officials say they expect crude oil output to return to normal levels of around 1.6m barrels per day by the end of 2012. |