Libya's rebels to run out of money 'in three weeks' 

Libya's rebel leadership will run out of money and face food shortages in "three or four weeks" unless it receives funds from the West. 

 

 Ali Tarhouni, who is expected to become finance minister of the Libyan rebels' National Transitional Council, said he hoped to receive up to $3 billion (£1.8 billion) in the coming days from the US, France and Italy.

The loan would be secured against Libya's overseas wealth generated by its oil revenues, which have been frozen under sanctions and are thought to be in excess of $165 billion (£100 billion).

But without this money, whose release is said to be "complex", the rebels' cause would face a crisis in paying for basic services in the east of the country, which it controls.

"I need about $2-3 billion and we are hoping to get most or all of this," Mr Tarhouni said in the council's de facto capital, Benghazi. "We can hold out for three to four more weeks, but people are really in need."

Mr Tarhouni said it was costing the rebel leadership up to $100 million per day to run the areas under its control. Even if he obtained all the money he sought it would only last three months, he said.

 

 

 

 

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