Canada looks to become money lender to Libya’s rebels

[Ropey]

Canada is looking to become a money lender to Libya’s rebels as well as being one of its prime military backers.

Foreign affairs minister John Baird secretly meets with Libyan rebels

Foreign Minister John Baird shakes hands with the head of Libya's National Transitional Council Mustafa Abdel Jalil, during his first visit to the rebel-held city of Benghazi June 27, 2011.
Photograph by: Reuters, Mohamed Abd El-Ghany

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird completed his first major overseas trip Monday, travelling secretly to Libya to meet with the rebels who have been fighting to oust longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Baird also met with humanitarian aid groups working in the country.

The Canadian Conservative government says it is legally powerless to seize and redistribute assets belonging to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi held in Canadian banks.

So instead, Foreign Minister John Baird has ordered his officials to look at starting a line of credit for the country’s National Transitional Council (NTC), which is now recognized by a group of 32 nations as Libya’s legitimate governing authority.

Canada looks to become money lender to Libya