US recognises rebels as Libyan government
US secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton says the Obama administration has decided to formally recognise Libya's main opposition group as the country's legitimate government.
US secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton says the Obama administration has decided to formally recognise Libya's main opposition group as the country's legitimate government.The move gives foes of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi a major financial and credibility boost.Clinton announced today that Washington accepts the Transitional National Council as the legitimate governing authority of the Libyan people.Diplomatic recognition of the council means that the US will be able to fund the opposition with some of the more than $30 billion in Gaddafi-regime assets that are frozen in American banks.Clinton made the announcement at an international conference on Libya in Istanbul.