Libyan opposition urges EU to recognize rebel national council

BRUSSELS. March 9. KAZINFORM The European Union should recognize Libya's national council, formed by rebels in the east of the country, as the legitimate ruling body, the head of the council's crisis committee said on Wednesday; Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.

"We urge the immediate recognition of the interim national council as the only legitimate body [in the country] representing the people of Libya today," Mahmoud Jebril told journalists in Strasbourg, where the European Parliament is currently discussing the fighting in Libya.

Fighting between rebels and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's forces for control of many eastern parts of the country has entered its third week, but Jebril flatly rejected any possible foreign military involvement.

"This is absolutely out of the question," Jebril said adding he hoped Gaddafi would leave the country on his own will.

The national council urged Gaddafi on Tuesday to resign from his post within 72 hours and leave the country.

Thousands of people have been killed since the first protesters began demanding the end of Gaddafi's 41-year rule in mid-February.

The rebels are stepping up calls for the UN to impose a no-fly zone over Libyan airspace. A UN resolution on the issue is to be debated by NATO defense ministers later this week. Russia has said it is against all military intervention; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti.

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