U.S. President Barack Obama says his administration will support the people of Libya as they build a "free, democratic and prosperous" future.
Obama said in remarks prepared for a Libya Contact Group meeting Tuesday at the United Nations that Libya will have a "friend and partner" that will assist them in developing security, providing humanitarian aid and peacefully transitioning to democracy.
The president also added that Libya is a "lesson" in what the international community can achieve when it stands together as one against injustice.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is chairing a meeting of the Friends of Libya group Tuesday, as the U.N. gets ready to deploy a political support mission to Tripoli.
The U.N. Security Council passed a resolution in March authorizing countries to use "all necessary measures" to protect civilians in Libya.
In August, fighters for Libya's provisional authority overran the Libyan dictator's compound in Tripoli. Battles continue in a handful of strongholds of Moammar Gadhafi as the country's National Transitional Council develops an interim government to rule until elections are held.
An NTC representative will represent Libya's seat in the General Assembly this week.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP.
