Germany will lend Libya's rebel council 100 million euros ($143 million) for civil and humanitarian purposes, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said on Sunday.
Berlin has opposed the Western military intervention in Libya but has promised to help oust Muammar Gaddafi through peaceful methods and recognised Libya's rebel council as its sole legitimate representative.
"We have decided to provide the Libyan transition council with urgently needed funding for civil and humanitarian measures," Westerwelle said in a statement. "Due to Colonel Gaddafi's war against his own people, the situation in Libya is extremely difficult. The funding is lacking to build necessary structures and to overcome supply shortages - from medical care to food." "People are suffering more and more from this (shortages), particularly in eastern Libya," said Westerwelle.
The loan could be paid back from frozen Gaddafi assets once the United Nations Security council releases them to a new Libyan government, Westerwelle said.
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