Tripoli, 12 August:
Following last week's ceremony transferring power from the National Transition Council to the National Congress, the French government has sent its congratulations to the newly sworn-in Libyan authorities.
In a statement issued by the French foreign ministry, France also applauded of the National Transition Council and particularly its president, Mustafa Abdel Jalil for their work over the past year and a half. Their efforts, the French said, "made it possible for the country to embark on a democratic transition and to turn the page on dictatorship".
The statement added: "It fully trusts the newly elected officials to complete this process, which should culminate in the establishment of a democratic, constitutional state respectful of human rights, in keeping with the aspirations of the Libyan people."
France remained " fully committed to supporting the Libyan transition and to providing its assistance to the country’s legitimate new authorities".