Sarkozy vows to keep up Libya military ops; rebel leader says he has no idea where Qaddafi is

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Wednesday that France would continue military operations in Libya under a United Nations mandate for as long as needed.

“We are ready to continue military operations under the UN Resolution 1973 for as long as our Libyan friends need,” Sarkozy told reporters in front of the presidential palace, standing beside Libyan rebel leader Mahmoud Jibril of the National Transitional Council (NTC).

Jibril, meanwhile, said he had no information on the whereabouts of Muammar Qaddafi following his flight from his Tripoli stronghold.

Jibril met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris for talks on how to ensure a smooth transition to democracy in the post-Qaddafi era.

A “Friends of Libya” conference has been set for September 1 in Paris.

Sarkozy told reporters that Russia, China, India and Brazil would be invited to the conference.