Germany decides to fund Libyan rebels.
Angela Merkel's government lends US$144 million to opponents of Muammar Gaddafi.
The German government announced today that it is lending Libyan rebel leaders 100 million euros ($144 million) to help rebuild the country and meet humanitarian needs.
The German Foreign Ministry announced the granting of the urgently needed loan, as frozen assets related to Muammar Gaddafi have not yet been released.
The situation in Libya is difficult because of a lack of funding "to build the necessary infrastructure and overcome supply shortages – from food to medical care," said Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle. "Particularly in eastern Libya, people are suffering more and more because of this."
The funds will be returned as soon as the UN Security Council releases Gaddafi's frozen assets to the new Libyan government, according to Westerwelle. Germany is not participating in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's air strikes against Libyan armed forces.
However, the German government called for Gaddafi's departure, and Westerwelle announced during a visit last month to the rebel stronghold of Benghazi that Germany recognized the National Transitional Council as the legitimate representative of Libya.