14/06/2011 10:09
Germany: Libya without Qaddafi
Germany on Monday officially recognized Libya's rebels. Foreign Minister of Germany Guido Westerwelle said after meeting rebel leaders in their capital Benghazi that Germany recognizes their National Transitional Council (NTC) as the “legitimate representative” of the Libyan people, the SkyNews informs.
“We want a free Libya, in peace and democracy without Gaddafi,” the Foreign Minister added.
He is the first official of Germany that has visited the rebel controlled Benghazi city.
Note that Berlin abstained from a UN Security Council resolution vote on March 17 backing intervention in Libya and chose not to join the NATO-led air war in support of the rebels, SkyNews reminds.
Germany becomes the 13th nation to recognize the NTC as “legitimate representative,” after Australia, Britain, France, Gambia, Italy, Jordan, Malta, Qatar, Senegal, Spain, the United Arab Emirates and the United States, the source mentions.