Sarkozy, Cameron to Visit Libya Thursday

The head of Libya's National Transitional Council confirmed that French President Nicolas Sarkozy will be among leaders visiting Tripoli on Thursday.

Mustafa Abdul Jalil confirmed to Agence France Presse that Sarkozy would visit, and added that "we say to the leaders coming tomorrow that they will be safe."

However, the NTC chief made no reference to British Prime Minister David Cameron, who sources said earlier was also due to travel to the Libyan capital on Thursday.

Abdul Jalil was speaking during a visit to Zawiyah, a town some 60 kilometers west of Tripoli.

A Libyan aviation official said that an aircraft carrying VIPs from France has requested permission to land at 6:00 am (0400 GMT) on Thursday, without elaborating.

Several sources in Paris said earlier that Sarkozy and Cameron were planning to visit Libya on Thursday.

They would be accompanied by Bernard-Henri Levy, the French philosopher who championed Libya's revolution and helped convince Sarkozy to back the rebels, the same sources said.

The trio were expected to meet with NTC leaders in Tripoli, while press reports said they may also travel to Benghazi, the eastern city where the uprising kicked off in February.

Both Cameron's and Sarkozy's offices declined to comment when asked about the trip.