The summit will involve China and Russia, which has now recognised the National Transitional Council (NTC) as Libya's legitimate government.

The NTC will call for help on security, rebuilding and preparing for democracy.

But it has still not captured Col Muammar Gaddafi, whose son Saif al-Islam again vowed a fight to the death.

The NTC will press for a further unfreezing of assets but will also stress that it does not want any lessening of Nato support as it tries to quell the remaining loyalist pockets.

About 60 countries are to attend the "Friends of Libya" forum in Paris on Thursday afternoon, along with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.