Libya's London embassy reopens

THE flag of Libya's rebel-backed National Transitional Council was unfurled at the country's embassy in Knightsbridge, London, yesterday.

Britain has officially recognised the council as Libya's legitimate government, after kicking out supporters of Muam-mar al-Gaddafi's regime.

Welcoming the arrival of the council's envoys, Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "The National Transitional Council is the sole legitimate governmental authority in Libya. It is therefore right that their representatives are staffing the Libyan embassy.

"Doing so marks very clearly the fundamental change that is taking place in Libya.

"People from across the country have decided to abandon Gaddafi. His actions have left him without legitimacy and he is trying to cling to power with increasing desperation."

Mahmud Nacua, the newly-appointed charg d'affaires to Britain, led the reopening ceremony, which included Libyans whose relatives have been killed in the six-month conflict.

Mr Nacua said: "The reopening of the embassy symbolises how far we have come. The embassy represents the legitimate government of Libya."