Interpol chief visits Tripoli

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TRIPOLI, Libya, March 19 (UPI) -- Libya can move toward recovery from civil war if its allies help it regain assets looted by the Gadhafi regime, Interpol Secretary-General Ronald Noble said.

Noble met in Tripoli with Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan. Noble is helping Libya identify members of Moammar Gadhafi regime and collect stolen assets.

"As Libya continues to rebuild its infrastructure following the 2011 overthrowing of Gadhafi, Interpol member countries can help Libya track down not only fugitives, but the millions if not billions (of dollars) in assets stolen by Col. Gadhafi, his family and associates," Noble said.

Gadhafi died in October 2011 after falling into rebel hands. NATO forces that year enforced a no-fly zone in order to prevent civilians from attacks by pro-Gadhafi forces.

Zeidan said the government welcomed Interpol's creation of a joint task force that would work with Libyan teams to help repatriate assets looted during the country's civil war.

Egyptian police announced Tuesday they coordinated with Interpol in the arrest of Gadhaf al-Dam, a confidant and cousin of Gadhafi, Egyptian news agency al-Ahram reports.

He faces charges in Libya for crimes against humanity during Gadhafi's tenure. He defected at the beginning of the Libyan revolution.

Egyptian authorities also handed former Libyan Ambassador to Egypt Ali Maria over to Interpol authorities to face crimes committed during the Gadhafi era.