Turkey offers to help rebuild Libya

ISTANBUL, Turkey, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey fully supports Libya's transition to democracy and will help rebuild its damaged infrastructure.

Erdogan, who met Saturday with Libya's interim prime minister Abd al-Raheem al-Keeb in Istanbul, said it is also prepared to help Libya restructure its security forces, Today's Zaman reported.

"We have given full support to the Libyan transition process so far and we will continue our support to the country in the best way we could," Erdogan said at a news conference with al-Keeb.

Turkey is negotiating with Libya to begin training the country's police force, which is rebuilding after the the revolution that ended the longtime dictatorship of Moammar Gadhafi.

Today's Zaman said the civilian militias that fought to unseat Gadhafi have been engaging in violent turf wars and are the biggest threat to Libya's stability.

Erdogan said Turkish companies will help rebuild Libya's damaged infrastructure and build government buildings free of charge.

Al-Keeb at the news conference asked Turkish companies who evacuated Libya during the revolution to return to Libya as soon as possible. An estimated $15 billion in construction projects, including hospitals, hotels and shopping malls, were left uncompleted, Today's Zaman said.