US refuses to recognize Libyan council

The US has stopped short of recognizing Libya's National Transitional Council as the country's legitimate government, BBC reported.

The statement comes after the first visit to the White House by a senior member of the rebel council, which is pushing for international support.

Mahmoud Jibril, deputy leader of the Benghazi-based National Transitional Council (NTC), met officials at the White House on Friday, including National Security Adviser Tom Donilon.

In a statement, the White House said Mr Donilon had told Mr Jibril that the US viewed the council as "a legitimate and credible interlocutor of the Libyan people."

White House spokesman Jay Carney said the US was working with Congress to unblock some of the more than $30bn (£18.5bn) in frozen funds, so it could be used to aid the rebels.

The US and Britain have not recognized the NTC as the true government of Libya - in contrast to France, Italy and Qatar.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Thursday that such a step would be "premature."