Libyan Council to address world leaders in Paris on election plans; Claims Qaddafi cornered in desert town (+ analysis); China wants UN-led reconstruction in Libya; Syrian official claims to have seen 70 executions; Three Pakistani soliders die in stand-off with India; Philippines seeks Chinese investment in resource sector; and more

Top of the Agenda: World Leaders in Paris for Libya Summit

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron will meet with representatives of the Libyan rebels' National Transitional Council (NTC) and delegations from sixty other countries for a summit on post-war political and economic reconstruction (al-Jazeera) in Libya. NTC chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil is set to open the Paris meeting by outlining the council's roadmap to a new constitution and democratic elections.

The conference will give Libya's rebel authority more legitimacy (BBC) on the international stage. Representatives from China and Russia are set to attend. While both countries opposed the NATO operation to aid the rebels in their fight against leader Muammar al-Qaddafi, Russia has now recognized the NTC (Reuters). US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will also be in attendance.

While Qaddafi remains on the run in Libya, an NTC official said Wednesday that rebel fighters had cornered the embattled leader (NYT) in a central desert town. One of Qaddafi's sons, Seif al-Islam, denied the claim, saying the Qaddafi leadership was intact.

However, another fugitive son of Qaddafi's, Saadi, called for dialogue (WSJ) between rebels and Qaddafi loyalists, offering to surrender under unspecified guarantees.

Analysis

Now that the Libyan rebels are close to winning a civil war, they must win peace and build their country, says this Financial Times editorial.

These are early days of the post-Qaddafi era, and navigating the peace is just as treacherous as fighting the war, says this Guardian editorial.

The UN wants the deposed Libyan leader sent to The Hague, but many Libyans want him tried at home. There are signs of division over how to proceed if the ousted dictator is captured alive, writes TIME's Vivienne Walt.

David Remnick discusses whether the Obama administration has been "leading from behind" on Libya in this New Yorker piece.

 

PACIFIC RIM

China Urges UN Leadership in Libya Reconstruction

The Chinese Communist Party's People's Daily newspaper warned the United States and Europe to let the United Nations take the lead in post-war reconstruction in Libya. China, which has a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, wants to protect its "legitimate interests" (Reuters) in Libya.

PHILIPPINES: Filipino President Benigno Aquino led his first official state visit to China for the Philippines-China economic and trade forum in Beijing. Aquino called for Chinese investment (al-Jazeera), particularly in the oil and gas sector.

 

ELSEWHERE:

Syrian official resigns over torture and execution claims

India kills three Pakistani soldiers in Kashmir

Republicans delay Obama unemployment speech

 

This is an excerpt of the CFR.org Daily News Brief. The full version is available on CFR.org.