Britain on Wednesday recognized the Libyan rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) as the country's sole legitimate government and expelled Libya's remaining diplomats in London, the Foreign Office said. "The UK recognizes and will deal with the NTC as the sole governmental authority in Libya," a Foreign Office spokesman told AFP.
"We can confirm that the Libyan charge d'affaires has been called to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and is being informed that he and the remaining Libyan diplomats in the UK are being expelled," the spokesman told Reuters.
Foreign Secretary William Hague said he had invited the NTC to take over the embassy and appoint an official envoy. "The prime minister and I have decided that the United Kingdom recognises and will deal with the National Transitional Council as the sole governmental authority in Libya," Hague told a news conference in London.
