Libya: Rebels Council Asks Arab League Recognition

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Libya’s National Transitional Council set up by anti-Gaddafi rebels as a ruling body in the east of the country has asked the Arab League to recognize it as a legitimate authority, Egyptian media said on Saturday.

The council forwarded its request to Amr Moussa, head of the 22-nation organization, ahead of an emergency foreign ministerial meeting Libya.

The Libyan oppositionists have also asked the Arab League to back up Western proposal on banning foreign flights to Libya to prevent aerial strikes from Muammar Gaddafi’s forces.

Protests against Gaddafi’s 42-year rule began in mid-February. The government has been using force to suppress demonstrations. Clashes have claimed the lives of several thousand people. Rebels have taken over most of the eastern territories.

On Thursday, France officially recognized the Libyan rebel leadership. Other EU countries – the United Kingdom and Germany – have urged all EU members to shun Gaddafi’s regime.

In his address carried by Libyan state media, Gaddafi warned that the country would drop its obligations to the EU and pull out of international agreements unless the EU recognized Tripoli’s efforts to tackle terrorism and illegal migration in North Africa.

Russia on Thursday joined UN arms embargo on Libya but says it is opposed to Western military intervention.

Ria Novosti

RIA Novosti was Russia's leading news agency in terms of multimedia technologies, website audience reach and quoting by the Russian media.

One thought on “Libya: Rebels Council Asks Arab League Recognition

  • March 12, 2011 at 7:33 pm
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    Russia still cannot rid itself of the Soviet mentality when it comes to Middle-Eastern politics. After being a supporter of Gaddafi but never being able to use him in their own interests, the current regime in Russia cannot afford to see a tyrant deposed – the idea could quite conceivably be more attractive closer to home.

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