WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House called on Libya’s new leaders on Friday to be more transparent in their decisions and respect the rights of all Libyans in a message marking the first anniversary of the revolt that toppled Muammar Gaddafi.
Acknowledging that democracy will take time to build, President Barack Obama’s press secretary Jay Carney emphasized that oil-producing Libya’s natural wealth could now be invested for the benefit of the entire nation.
“The Transitional National Council and government should take full advantage of this historic moment by making decisions openly and transparently,” Carney said in a statement, which also repeated Washington’s promise assist the country.
The Council has struggled to impose its authority across a country, where heavily armed militias enforce law on the ground and answer first to their own local commanders despite avowed loyalty to the central authorities.
“The revolutionaries who fought so hard for liberty now have a responsibility to protect their freedoms by working with the government to establish stability, peace, and reconciliation,” Carney said.