Libyan tribe meets in Istanbul to discuss the country's future

More than 100 members of Libya's Warfalla tribe gathered in Istanbul over the weekend to discuss the North African country's future, hit by a revolt against Muammar Gaddafi's four-decade-long rule. At the meeting, which began at an Istanbul hotel on Saturday, Warfalla members declined to say who they support, but suggested that Gaddafi must leave, daily Zaman reported. Warfalla members earlier held similar meetings in Dubai and Qatar. They said choosing Istanbul as venue for this meeting was an acknowledgement of Ankara's support for Libya in difficult times, also noting Turkey's evacuation of hundreds of wounded Libyans from Benghazi and Misrata. Lamenting how Turkish contractors operating in Libya had to leave the country amid the turmoil, Kenshil also promised that Libyan officials would fulfill their obligations under contracts signed with Turkish businessmen, despite the firms' absence.