Obama talks Libya with Kuwait emir

US President Barack Obama thanked Kuwait's emir for the oil-rich country's "generous pledge" of $180 million to the Libyan opposition Transitional National Council. Obama spoke by telephone to Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on Friday and also thanked him for Kuwait's "steadfast support" of US troops, the White House said in a statement. "The president thanks the emir for Kuwait's generous pledge of assistance to the Transitional National Council of Libya and stressed the importance of such financial support to the opposition given their urgent needs," the statement said. Kuwait on April 24 announced the pledge of "urgent humanitarian aid" to Libyan civilians, through the national council. Meanwhile, world powers on Thursday agreed to tap Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi's frozen assets abroad to provide an emergency lifeline to the rebels. Kadhafi's regime on Friday called the plan "piracy." The White House said Obama and Kuwait's emir also "renewed their pledge to build on the historic ties between the United States and Kuwait." The United States led the military assault that liberated Kuwait in 1991 after Iraq invaded its smaller neighbor.