African Union accords recognition to Libya’s NTC

The African Union (AU) said it would accord recognition to Libya's de facto ruling council, a move that would remove another diplomatic support from Libya's ousted ruler Muammar Gaddafi.

The AU, which has often come in for flak over its tardiness in responding to events on its doorstep, said in a statement it was ready to support Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) in its efforts to build an inclusive government.

Also South Africa, the pre-eminent economic power in the region with a major say in AU policy also said yesterday that it would recognise the NTC, bringing a long-standing relationship with Gaddafi to an abrupt end.

At the UN in New York, Libya's new flag flew for the first time after the fall of Gaddafi, as US president Barack Obama called on Gaddafi loyalists to stop fighting. He added that the US ambassador would return to Tripoli.

He said those holding out needed to understand that the old regime had ended, and it was time to lay down their arms and join the new Libya. Obama's call came nearly a month after Gaddafi was driven from power with the help of a NATO-led bombing campaign.

He further pledged that so long as the Libyan people were being threatened, the NATO-led mission to protect them would continue.