For Immediate Release: August 22, 2011
Contact: Allison Sturma, 202-429-4725

(Washington) – Experts from the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) are available for comment and analysis of the rapidly changing conditions in Libya.  Manal Omar, USIP’s director of Iraq, Iran, and North Africa programs, is traveling in Libya and is available for comment.

In addition, USIP will host a public program on transitional justice on Tuesday in the Libyan city of Benghazi.  “Confronting the Truth,” a USIP documentary on transitional justice, will be screened at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, August 23, in the main hall of the International Medical University in Benghazi. The film will be open to the general public and followed by a presentation and discussion.

Manal Omar, director of Iraq, Iran, & North Africa programs

Skype:  Manal1omar
Email: momar@usip.org
Twitter: @ManalOmar

Omar: "Libyans are celebrating across the country, many saying that the Ramadan holiday of Eid has come early this year.  The greeting on the street is ‘congratulations for liberation day.’

"Key to the future will be for the newly emerged Libyan civil society organizations to work closely with the National Transitional Council to develop a transparent transition process.  The main sense is a euphoria over Tripoli being free, but questions on future nation building developments are already being asked.  A large number of people I met with today are asking about a national reconciliation process in country."

Paul Hughes, director of special projects

Email: phughes@usip.org
Phone: 202-429-7167

Hughes:  "Qaddafi will have to relinquish power, but this doesn’t mean he is not a continuing threat. Knowing that he faces arrest under an International Criminal Court warrant, Qaddafi will try to fight on, perhaps in the form of an insurgency, either to retake Libya or to force a bargain guaranteeing his freedom.  For the transitional council, the toughest work is ahead.  The immediate needs of security, water, electricity, and emergency health care should be the priorities for Libya’s new leaders."

Additional Resources

• U.S. Recognizes Libyan Rebels as Legitimate Authority
  On the Issues by Col. Paul Hughes | July 18, 2011
• Present at the Birth of Libya’s Civil Society
  Commentary by Manal Omar | July 29, 2011
• International Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Qaddafi
  On the Issues by Lawrence Woocher | USIP expert discusses the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Libyan leader Col. Muammar al-Qaddafi and how this may impact efforts to end the fighting.
• Libyan Forces Use Rape as Weapon of War
  News Feature by Gordon Lubold | June 9, 2011
• Countries and Regions: Libya
• Confronting the Truth (DVD)
  USIP Video on Truth Commissions and Societies in Transition