- Title: LIBYA: Libyans queue up at Tripoli bank to withdraw money
- Date: 30th August 2011
- Summary: TRIPOLI, LIBYA (AUGUST 29, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF NATIONAL AFRICA BANK PEOPLE WAITING OUTSIDE THE BANK MAN LOOKING TROUGH GATE INTO BANK WOMEN WAITING AT THE BANK'S ENTRANCE PEOPLE STANDING ON PORTRAIT OF MUAMMAR GADDAFI (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) NAEMA ISMAEL SAYING: "With regard to salaries and the rising cost living, it's clear. You don't have to say anything." PEOPLE WAITING OUTSIDE THE BANK WOMEN WAITING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MOHAMMED EL HADI SAYING: "We don't have cash. There is no money in the bank. Even if someone has 100,000 dinars, he is not getting even 100 of it. Muammar Gaddafi took it all and handed it to his supporters." PEOPLE LOOKING INSIDE THE BANK INSIDE THE BANK SEEN TROUGH WINDOW BANK STAFF COUNTING MONEY INSIDE THE BANK (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BANK OFFICIAL, SHUKRI JUHAIMI, SAYING : "This cash is just the beginning. We are just about to go to the bank of Libya. Hopefully this will be enough to get moving, God willing. Things are going well, praise be to God. Cash is ready and available and there are no problems at all. Today it will be made available and distributed to the branches." BRANCH MANAGER MUSBAH ZAWAWI AT DESK (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BRANCH MANAGER, MUSBAH ZAWAWI, SAYING: "The NTC has requested the bank of Libya to disburse cash to bank customers a sum of 250 dinars for Eid." BANK STAFF WRAPPING UP WAD OF MONEY AT DESK PEOPLE WAITING OUTSIDE THE DOORS OF THE CLOSED BANK DOOR
- Embargoed: 14th September 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Libya
- Country: Libya
- Topics: Conflict,Economy
- Reuters ID: LVACXN2GCOQH1XMUCLGX3UZ6855T
- Story Text: Tripoli residents waited impatiently outside a bank on Monday (August 29) to withdraw money a week after Libyan rebels stormed the capital.
The bank of Libya distributed money to the National Africa Bank, which is in charge of distributing it to other branches.
But people waiting outside the bank said they were struggling financially.
"With regard to salaries and the rising cost living, it's clear. You don't have to say anything," said one Tripoli resident Naema Ismael.
Another man agreed. Mohammed el-Hadi said: "We don't have cash. There is no money in the bank. Even if someone has 100,000 dinars (82,000 US dollars), he is not getting even 100 of it. Muammar Gaddafi took it all and handed it to his supporters."
But bank staff said they hoped to be able to distribute cash soon.
"This cash is just the beginning. We are just about to go to the bank of Libya. Hopefully this will be enough to get moving, God willing. Things are going well, praise be to God. Cash is ready and available and there are no problems at all. Today it will be made available and distributed to the branches," said bank official Shukri Juhaimi.
The rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) has said it would give 250 dinars (205 US dollars) to residents ahead of Eid which falls on Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on the sighting of the moon.
"The NTC has requested the bank of Libya to disburse cash to bank customers, a sum of 250 dinars for Eid," said the manager of a branch of North Africa Bank, Musbah Zawawi.
Bank staff said technical problems were hampering the bank opening but they were confident people could get in sometime during the day.
Fighting has receded in the capital but the NTC said anti-Gaddafi forces were not yet fully in control of Tripoli. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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