France has got approval to release $2.16bn of Libyan assets to help the country's interim ruling council rebuild the country, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said on Thursday.

Juppe, interviewed on RTL radio shortly before the start of an international conference on Libya in Paris, said the situation in Libya had largely stabilised and it was time now to help the interim rulers after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.

"We have to help the National Transitional Council because the country is devastated, the humanitarian situation is difficult and there's a lack of water, electricity and fuel," Juppe said. - Reuters