A road map for a constitution and democratic elections are expected to come out of the conference, according to the diplomats, even as rebels battle forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi.

Chief on the agenda will be discussions about Libya's immediate humanitarian needs, the diplomats said.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about sensitive diplomatic discussions.

There is an expectation that the National Transitional Council will outline its own plans to stabilize security and address the growing humanitarian crisis, a senior U.S. State Department official told reporters Wednesday in Washington.

The council's ability to deliver water, food, power and gas to the Libyan people "will really be a key test in these first few days in terms of their ability to show what credibility they have," the official said.

At the same time, senior U.N. officials tell CNN that initial discussions with the rebel leadership suggest the United Nations will play a large coordinating role in post-Gadhafi Libya.

The gathering of the International Contact Group on Libya -- a coalition of governments and international organizations -- is the latest in a series of meetings since the war began in February.

Representatives of NATO, the African Union and the Arab League also are expected to attend the session.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Paris Thursday for the high-level meeting, which the official said is intended to pay tribute to the Libyans for casting off -- with the help of NATO warplanes -- the rule of Gadhafi and help the North African nation prepare for the transition.

"We want to hear from them what their needs are in the area of humanitarian assistance and in the area of financial support," the senior State Department official said.

Global Arab Network

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