Senior Libyan rebel official Mahmud Jibril said on Tuesday that the country's transition "begins immediately" and that Qatar would host a meeting on Wednesday to organise $2.4bn in aid for the country.

Speaking at a press conference in Doha, the number two in the National Transitional Council said "we will build a new Libya, with all Libyans as brothers for a united, civil and democratic nation.

"This is the new Libya where every Libyan works as a beloved brother, hand in hand, to serve the interests of the nation to ensure equality and justice for everyone.

"We have to be transparent in front of the whole world. Now we have to concentrate on building and healing our wounds."

He said the meeting of donor nations on Wednesday would be "to make provisions and arrange for $2.4 billion for the NTC in order to pay salaries of Libyans before Eid and to arrange for all the medical treatment and the artificial limbs which are required for the injured."

Eid el-Fitr is the holiday that marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which comes to a close on or around August 30.

Speaking to the young people of Libya "who brought us our dignity back," he said: "I would like to confirm to them that this is your revolution and you will have to continue the march to finish the revolution ... to participate in the creation and establishment of the Libyan state in order to move Libya forward."

Jibril praised "our revolutionaries, who have written a page in history .... They allowed Tripoli to be liberated, and for that help they are in our hearts."   -   AFP