TRIPOLI, Libya — U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said “the torch of freedom” has passed to the Libyan people and he pledged during a historic visit Saturday to Tripoli that the United States will do all it can to help the country move toward democracy.
But he and his Libyan hosts acknowledged the threat of Islamic militants gaining ground in this period of political uncertainty after the ouster and death of longtime dictator Moammar Khadafy.
Panetta and Libyan leaders identified challenges for the government now forming, including how to gain control of the militias that overthrew Khadafy during an eight- month civil war.
“This will be a long and difficult transition, but I have confidence that you will succeed in realizing the dream of a representative government,” Panetta said during a news conference with Prime Minister Abdurrahim el-Keib.
Although his visit was brief, Panetta made history as the first U.S. Pentagon chief to set foot on Libyan soil.
Panetta and el-Keib expressed confidence that the fledgling government will be able to reach out to the militias and bring them together.
“We know how serious this issue is,” el-Keib said. “We realize it is not a matter of saying, ‘OK, put down your arms, go back to work or do what you want to do.’ We realize that there are lots of things that we need to be organized.” The Associated Press
