The Associated Press: Libyan rebels' Gulf allies poised for payday

When Libyan rebels first called out for international aid, the wealthy Gulf was quick to answer: Warplanes from Qatar and United Arab Emirates joined the NATO-led military coalition against Moammar Gadhafi and critical aid and diplomatic support were funneled to opposition fighters.

Now the rebels' Gulf allies could be quickly shifting from uprising backers to deep-pocket patrons of reconstruction in what would mark another step in the region's transformation from political bystander to front-line player.

Aref Ali Nayed, ambassador to UAE and spokesman for the rebel "stabilization team" currently working out of Dubai, said Tuesday that Gulf expertise would be key in areas such as construction and port operations.

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