The West must release Libya's frozen assets in order for a new government to succeed following the uprising against Muammar Gaddafi, senior rebel figure Mahmud Jibril said in Istanbul.
"There will be high expectations after the collapse of the regime. The frozen assets must be released for the success of the new government to be established after the Gaddafi regime," said Jibril, number two in the rebels' National Transitional Council (NTC).
He was speaking, through an interpreter, at a news conference the day after senior diplomats of the Libya Contact Group met in Istanbul and agreed to speed up release of some of the frozen funds by the middle of next week.
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"Salaries of civil servants need to be paid," said Jibril. "The life needs to continue on its normal course."
The Gaddafi regime "is going through its final moments," he added, calling for efforts to restore peace and stability.
Libya's rebels announced Friday the transfer of their leadership to Tripoli from their Benghazi base.
