France's President Nicolas Sarkozy will meet Mahmud Jibril the prime minister of Libya's victorious rebel movement the National Transitional Council in Paris on Wednesday, his office said.

A statement from the Elysee Palace said the two men would meet at 5.45pm (1545 GMT) for talks on the situation and "the work of the international community to support the transition to a free and democratic Libya."

France was the first major power to recognise the NTC as Libya's government in waiting and, with Britain, has spearheaded the NATO-led coalition carrying out air strikes in support of the NTC's bid to overthrow Moamer Kadhafi.

The rebels have all but captured the Libyan capital Tripoli and on Tuesday they stormed Kadhafi's headquarters compound. Jibril and the NTC now plan to form an interim government and hold elections in around eight months.