International officials and Libya’s opposition have drawn up detailed plans to rebuild the North African nation’s economy and society following the removal of Muammar Qaddafi, British diplomats said on June 24. Preparations for maintaining law and order, resuming oil production and the potential deployment of UN peacekeepers as cease-fire monitors have all been drafted during talks over the last month, which have also discussed how officials currently tied to Qaddafi’s regime could be integrated into an interim administration.
A senior British diplomat, who demanded anonymity to discuss the work, said a team of officials from the UK, United States, Italy, Turkey and other nations has spent several weeks in eastern Libya discussing scenarios with opposition leaders. “We are planning carefully and comprehensively for the days, weeks and months after Qaddafi has gone,” the diplomat said. The plans, which are expected to be published formally next week, include a proposed timetable for resuming oil production in Libya’s east. Officials believe there is little serious damage there to hamper production and predict work could begin again three to four weeks after Qaddafi leaves office. The team has also discussed developing Libya’s civil society institutions.