Preparations for maintaining law and order, resuming oil production and the potential deployment of UN peacekeepers as cease-fire monitors have all been drafted during talks over the last month, which have also discussed how officials currently tied to Qaddafi’s regime could be integrated into an interim administration.

A senior British diplomat, who demanded anonymity to discuss the work, said Friday that a team of officials from the UK, United States, Italy, Turkey and other nations has spent several weeks in eastern Libya discussing scenarios with opposition leaders.

“We are planning carefully and comprehensively for the days, weeks and months after Qaddafi has gone,” the diplomat said.

The plans, which are expected to be published formally next week, include a proposed timetable for resuming oil production in Libya’s east.

Officials believe there is little serious damage there to hamper production and predict work could begin again three to four weeks after Qaddafi leaves office.

The team has also discussed developing Libya’s civil society institutions.

Libya’s Transitional National Council intends to run the country until parliamentary and presidential elections can take place — a process that is expected to take many months to prepare for.

The British diplomat acknowledged officials have been mindful of recent failures in post-conflict planning. The US and Britain have been sharply criticized over preparations in Iraq for the fall of Saddam Hussein.

“We have learned the lessons of previous conflicts, this is precisely why the UK has been at the forefront of supporting the Libyan people’s preparations,” the diplomat said.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said he had faith in the ability of the Libyan opposition to guide the country toward democratic elections.

“I believe we need to show real support for the Transitional National Council, who I believe are demonstrating they are not extremists, they are not Islamists, they are not tribal. They want a united Libya, but a more democratic Libya,” he said, speaking at a European Union summit in Brussels.

Military officials and diplomats in Britain insisted that Qaddafi is being eased out of power, despite his refusal to quit so far.

British military spokesman Maj. Gen. Nick Pope told reporters that a meeting on Tuesday in London of the nations involved in the air campaign in Libya had underscored their resolve.

Meanwhile, at the European Union summit on Friday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy derided the low US profile in the international campaign in Libya, saying that France and Britain are carrying most of the burden and will stay until Qaddafi leaves.

While other European leaders pushed for a political solution in Libya, the French leader strongly defended the NATO-led military operation — and NATO itself. He rebutted comments by US Defense Minister Robert Gates that the alliance’s future could be in doubt because of European reluctance to exercise military might.

“I wouldn’t say that the bulk of the work in Libya is being done by our American friends,” Sarkozy told reporters in Brussels at a European Union summit. “The French and English and their allies are doing the work.” The United States has insisted on a backseat role in Libya. It led the initial coalition airstrikes in March, but in April withdrew US forces from the direct combat role, limiting them to battlefield surveillance, aerial tanking and other support roles.