WORLD_ Canberra backs new Libya

Canberra backs new Libya

Dan Oakes
June 10, 2011

AUSTRALIA has joined a handful of countries in cutting off the Libyan regime of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and recognising the opposition as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people.

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd was expected to announce early this morning that the Australian government now recognises the rebel Transitional National Council, based in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, as the ''legitimate interlocutor of the Libyan people'' a form of words used by other countries, such as Italy and Britain, that have broken ties with Colonel Gaddafi's government.

It is believed Mr Rudd will say the TNC has laid out a peace plan and mapped out its vision for a new constitutional democratic state. He will say the plan provides for basic rights and freedoms of its citizens and creates economic opportunities.

A high-level Australian government delegation will travel to Benghazi next month to meet TNC representatives and discuss how Australia can best help the nascent government.

Italy and Britain, France, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Spain and a handful of small African nations have thrown their lot in with the opposition.

Mr Rudd has been a vocal advocate for the need for military action against Colonel Gaddafi since the Libyan rebellion broke out in February. He was one of the main proponents of the no-fly zone implemented by

NATO countries, which has helped the rebels in eastern Libya hold back the stronger Gaddafi armed forces.

Mr Rudd met last night in Abu Dhabi with other diplomats from the Libya Contact Group, including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to discuss the Libyan situation.

The meeting included representatives of Britain, France and Italy, as well as delegates from the United Nations, the Arab League, and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.

A senior aide to Mrs Clinton reportedly told journalists before the meeting that it would discuss ''what a post-Gaddafi Libya ought to look like''.

However, Reuters reported the aide as saying the US government had made no decision on diplomatic recognition and the TNC was not ready to take over should Colonel Gaddafi fall tomorrow. ''When Gaddafi goes, basically a whole regime goes, it's not just one man,'' the official reportedly said.


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/canberra-backs-new-libya-20110609-1fvas.html#ixzz1Oq4iv9gr