Gadhafi regime declared 'illegitimate'
Source: Agencies |
July 16, 2011, Saturday
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MORE than 30 nations, including the United States, yesterday declared that Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's regime is no longer legitimate and formally recognized Libya's main opposition group as the country's government.
In a final statement following a meeting of the so-called Contact Group on Libya, the nations said: the "Gadhafi regime no longer has any legitimate authority in Libya," and Gadhafi and certain members of his family must go.
In addition to the US, the Contact Group on Libya includes members of NATO, the European Union and the Arab League. The group said it would deal with Libya's main opposition group - the National Transitional Council, or TNC - as "the legitimate governing authority in Libya" until an interim authority is in place.
The recognition of the Libyan opposition as the legitimate government gives foes of Gadhafi a major financial and credibility boost.
Diplomatic recognition of the council means that the US will be able to fund the opposition with some of the more than US$30 billion in Gadhafi-regime assets that are frozen in American banks.
"The United States views the Gadhafi regime as no longer having any legitimate authority in Libya," said US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. "And so I am announcing today that, until an interim authority is in place, the United States will recognize the TNC as the legitimate governing authority for Libya, and we will deal with it on that basis."
Rebel spokesman Mahmoud Shammam welcomed the recognition of the National Transitional Council, calling on other nations to deliver on a promise to release hundreds of millions of dollars in funds to the Libyan opposition. "Funds, funds, funds," Shammam said.
He said the opposition hopes to hold elections within a year and resume oil exports very soon, saying the damage to oil facilities have been minimal and repaired. However, Shammam ruled out any new oil contracts until a new elected government was in place.
Ahead of the meeting, a defiant spokesman for the Libyan government said its members were ready to die in defense of the country's oil.
"We will kill, we will die for oil," Moussa Ibrahim said. "Rebels, NATO, we don't care. We will defend our oil to the last drop of blood and we are going to use everything."
The Contact Group statement urged a smooth transition to democracy and ruled out participation of "perpetrators of atrocities against civilians" in a future political settlement.
Meanwhile, Gadhafi urged his loyalists to attack Libya's enemies.
"Crashing waves of angry masses, rising to the challenge with high heads and loud voice saying we will never surrender. Smash NATO! We are courageous, we are mujahideen!" Gadhafi said on Thursday.
In a final statement following a meeting of the so-called Contact Group on Libya, the nations said: the "Gadhafi regime no longer has any legitimate authority in Libya," and Gadhafi and certain members of his family must go.
In addition to the US, the Contact Group on Libya includes members of NATO, the European Union and the Arab League. The group said it would deal with Libya's main opposition group - the National Transitional Council, or TNC - as "the legitimate governing authority in Libya" until an interim authority is in place.
The recognition of the Libyan opposition as the legitimate government gives foes of Gadhafi a major financial and credibility boost.
Diplomatic recognition of the council means that the US will be able to fund the opposition with some of the more than US$30 billion in Gadhafi-regime assets that are frozen in American banks.
"The United States views the Gadhafi regime as no longer having any legitimate authority in Libya," said US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. "And so I am announcing today that, until an interim authority is in place, the United States will recognize the TNC as the legitimate governing authority for Libya, and we will deal with it on that basis."
Rebel spokesman Mahmoud Shammam welcomed the recognition of the National Transitional Council, calling on other nations to deliver on a promise to release hundreds of millions of dollars in funds to the Libyan opposition. "Funds, funds, funds," Shammam said.
He said the opposition hopes to hold elections within a year and resume oil exports very soon, saying the damage to oil facilities have been minimal and repaired. However, Shammam ruled out any new oil contracts until a new elected government was in place.
Ahead of the meeting, a defiant spokesman for the Libyan government said its members were ready to die in defense of the country's oil.
"We will kill, we will die for oil," Moussa Ibrahim said. "Rebels, NATO, we don't care. We will defend our oil to the last drop of blood and we are going to use everything."
The Contact Group statement urged a smooth transition to democracy and ruled out participation of "perpetrators of atrocities against civilians" in a future political settlement.
Meanwhile, Gadhafi urged his loyalists to attack Libya's enemies.
"Crashing waves of angry masses, rising to the challenge with high heads and loud voice saying we will never surrender. Smash NATO! We are courageous, we are mujahideen!" Gadhafi said on Thursday.
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