Africa
15 September 2011 Last updated at 16:59 GMT Thousands of Libyans have turned out to cheer UK Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy in the eastern city of Benghazi.
"It is great to be in free Libya," Mr Cameron said. "Col Gaddafi said he would hunt you down like rats, but you showed the courage of lions."Earlier, the two met Libya's interim leader in Tripoli and pledged their support for the new authorities.
They also promised to unblock more frozen Libyan assets.
After the talks in Tripoli, the two leaders travelled under heavy security to Benghazi, where a crowd had gathered in central Liberty Square, waiting to hear them speak.
Analysis
Libyans realise that foreign superpowers are not charitable organisations: privately, they often say that those countries that "stood by them" from the start of this uprising will be treated favourably with future contracts.
People here do not really care who gets the oil; the problem in recent decades has been how Libya's oil revenues were invested. Corruption was rife under Col Gaddafi. That is the main area that needs to be transformed in the "New Libya".
For the NTC, this visit serves to further legitimise its image to the rest of the world. It is also the NTC's chance to demonstrate that it is in complete control of the capital and its security.
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Shouting to make himself heard above the roar of welcome, Mr Cameron told his audience : "Your friends in Britain and France will stand with you as you build your country and build your democracy for the future."
Mr Sarkozy plunged into the crowd, reaching across his bodyguards to shake the hands of waiting Libyans, many of them waving French flags. This is the first visit to Libya by Western leaders since ex-leader Col Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown last month.
Gaddafi loyalists still control a handful of towns, including Col Gaddafi's birthplace, Sirte, on the Mediterranean coast.
The National Transitional Council (NTC) says its forces have entered Sirte and are meeting resistance from pro-Gaddafi fighters.
The statement came from the NTC military council in the coastal city of Misrata, about 200km (120 miles) to the west.
'Brave positions' Earlier, Mr Cameron praised the NTC for the way it has established control over the country, but warned that the "hardest part" was still to come.
Both he and Mr Sarkozy said Nato would continue its mission under a UN mandate to protect Libyan civilians until the last remnants of pro-Gaddafi forces were defeated. Britain and France were at the forefront of the Nato operation in Libya.
"The message, I think, to Gaddafi and all those holding arms on his behalf is: it is over. Give up. The mercenaries should go home," Mr Cameron told a news conference in Tripoli.
NTC chief Mustafa Abdul Jalil thanked them for taking "brave positions" during the Libyan uprising.
"They showed us political, economic and military support which helped the rebels establish a state, and we thank France and the UK for that," he said.
Mr Sarkozy urged Libyans to avoid "vengeance and retaliation", calling on them to preserve unity and seek reconciliation.
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"Since they feel safe to visit Tripoli, it means that there is security and stability."
Abir, Tripoli
Abir, Tripoli
He said France's focus was on consolidating the position of the NTC and pursuing the last remnants of the Gaddafi regime, rather than focusing on economic deals or reconstruction contracts.
However, Mr Abdul Jalil said Libya's allies would get some priority when future contracts are negotiated.Mr Cameron and Mr Sarkozy arrived in Libya earlier on Thursday and flew by helicopter to a hospital where they were greeted by crowds of cheering staff and patients.
The two leaders are hugely popular in Libya, where common graffiti slogans include: "Merci Sarkozy!" and "Thank you Britain!"
Their visit had been under consideration for several weeks, correspondents say. Initially the plan had been to wait until security had improved across Libya, but the trip was brought forward to show support for the NTC after its arrival in Tripoli at the weekend.
Mr Cameron, who is accompanied by UK Foreign Minister William Hague, has announced that Britain is to:
- deploy a UK military team to advise the NTC on security
- return Libyan assets totalling £600m ($948m) to the interim authorities as soon as possible
- make 50 places available in UK specialist hospitals for critically ill Libyans, with visa requirements to be waived for patients and one accompanying person
- provide £600,000 for de-mining efforts and £60,000 to pay for a police communications system
The UK on Wednesday circulated a draft resolution to the UN Security Council that would ease UN sanctions against Libya.
Many UN countries - including all five permanent members of the Security Council - have recognised the NTC as Libya's legitimate authority. But the African Union, which met on Wednesday evening, has yet to do so.
Mr Sarkozy is reportedly travelling with 160 security officers, mostly from the specialist CRS riot squad.
Missing gold On Friday, the NTC is to send a delegation to neighbouring Niger in an effort to recover gold and cash believed to have been taken out of Libya by fleeing Gaddafi loyalists. Mr Sarkozy and French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe will also meet Niger's leadership on Friday.
"Impunity is over," Mr Sarkozy said.
At least 36 members of the fugitive leader's inner circle, including relatives and generals, have fled to neighbouring Algeria and Niger since Tripoli fell to NTC forces last month.
Mr Abdul Jalil said Libya would also ask for the handover of individuals wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC has indicted Col Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam and his intelligence chief for crimes against humanity.
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