Hafed al-Ghwell is a Libyan opposition activist living in Washington.

"The most important part a United Nations structure can give Libya is a sense of security and stability so you don't leave the political haggling to people with guns because that's what's going to happen," said al-Ghwell.

Western countries also are looking to invest in Libya, especially in its oil, but to avoid post-war mistakes of the past.

"One lesson we've all learned is that this will be a Libyan led process and that while we each have a huge stake in its success, that we must follow the Libyan lead and help and support and not dictate a path that they should be on," said Gene Cretz, U.S. ambassador to Libya.

Libyans seem to have had enough of dictators.