UN envoy arrives to discuss Libya future

A special envoy for the UN secretary general has arrived in Libya's capital to try to boost international efforts in the country's redevelopment.



Ian Martin arrived in Tripoli to discuss how the UN can help the interim National Transitional Council (NTC).



The NTC is still trying to track down Col Muammar Gaddafi and his loyalist forces in a number of areas.



Meanwhile, documents have emerged throwing light on US and UK cooperation with the Gaddafi regime.



The files, which were found by Human Rights Watch, contain correspondence between Libyan intelligence and the CIA, MI6 and other agencies.

'Big challenge'



Mr Martin said on arrival his role was to aid the NTC.



"I think the future leaders of Libya face a very big challenge, they have already shown the ways in which they are ready to tackle that challenge and it will be the commitment of the United Nations to assist them in any way they ask," he said.Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said it was important for the international community to "come together with an effective, well-coordinated programme of action".



Mr Ban said the immediate challenge was humanitarian.



"Roughly 860,000 people have left the country since February, including skilled guest workers. Public services are under severe strain, including hospitals and clinics. There is a major water shortage."



But he insisted: "The future destiny of Libya must rest in the hands of the Libyan people."



The NTC said on Saturday that it hoped to restart oil production at the Misla and Sarir fields on 12 or 13 September.



Libya's oil ministry, the National Oil Corporation, reopened on Saturday, saying it hoped to return to the pre-war output of 1.6 million barrels per day within 15 months.



The ministry, which oversees Africa's largest oil reserves, said five international oil firms were already back and working to resume operations.

CIA rendition



Meanwhile, media reports on Saturday said documents had been found showing close ties between Col Gaddafi's intelligence services and their US and UK counterparts in recent years.



The CIA reportedly sent terror suspects to Libya for interrogation, while MI6 passed details of exiled Gaddafi opponents to Tripoli.