US Senator John McCain visiting Benghazi Tripoli – Emad Agag Libya’s interim PM Abdel Rahim al-Keeb met with US senator John McCain and his accompanying delegation in Tripoli, Wednesday, to discuss ways through which the US can assist Libya. Al-Keeb welcomed the US intentions to help the Libyan people in all areas needed to serve Libya’s best interest and preserve its sovereignty and independence.
He indicated, in a press statement following the meeting, that there are several ways through which the United States can help Libya, including the issue of the revolutionary wounded, particularly as the treatment for some cases could be better carried out in the US.
US had offered to provide expertise in treating wounded fighters and setting up rehabilitation centres inside Libya.
Al-Keeb pointed out that Washington could help the Libyan government in eliminating remnants and thugs from Muammar Gaddafi’s regime, in addition to his aides.
For his part, US Senator John McCain praised the democratic change in Libya following the revolution.
“Enormous progress and change that has taken place over the past months,” McCain noted in a press statement following the meeting with the Libyan government.
"The upcoming elections in June will prove to the world that the people of Libya are struggling for universal human values of democracy and freedom," he said.
Libya is set to have elections in June to elect a 200-member assembly that will appoint a prime minister and select a panel to write the constitution.
McCain urged Libya's militias to integrate themselves into the country's new national army and called for the reported abuse of prisoners held by the ex-rebels to stop.
"We made clear to them that human rights organizations are reporting serious abuses and the world is watching. We know it is difficult but these abuses need to stop so Libya can be respected everywhere in the world," he said.
He also said he advocated the collection of weapons by the authorities, saying that if they "fall into the wrong hands, it would pose a very serious threat."
It is worth mentioning that McCain visited Benghazi last April during the uprising against Gaddafi’s regime.