Foreign Secretary William Hague said Britain is to recognize the National Transitional Council as the sole legitimate government in Libya and give the rebel authority access to oil revenues.
Remaining staff at the Libyan embassy in London are being expelled and the council, which is trying to overthrow Muammar Qaddafi, has been asked to appoint a diplomatic envoy and take over the mission, Hague told a press conference in London today.
Britain follows France, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in recognizing the opposition movement as the legitimate Libyan government. Hague said 91 million pounds ($149 million) of oil assets are being unfrozen to help the group meet “basic needs” including salaries.
“The U.K. will deal with the National Transitional Council as the sole government body in Libya,” Hague said. “In line with this decision we summoned the Libyan charge d’affaires to the Foreign Office this morning and informed him that he and other diplomats from the Qaddafi regime must now leave.”
Hague said the move will allow Britain to give “greater practical assistance” to the council as it tries to oust Qaddafi after 42 years in power.
As the military campaign enters its fifth month, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and its allies are trying to wrap up a mission that French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe promised at its March 19 outset “will be counted in days and in weeks, not in months.” Hague signalled a move away from suggestions that Qaddafi could stay in the country if he steps aside.
“The best solution in a political settlement would be for Qaddafi to leave Libya,” the foreign secretary said. “There is a better solution than that, which would be for him to be at the International Criminal Court.”
The June 27 indictment of Qaddafi on charges of crimes against humanity limited his exile options to a handful of countries that did not ratify the Rome treaty that set up the court in 2002.
Hague repeated that Britain will maintain its mission in Libya for as long as necessary.
