Iran votes to give Libya's UN seat to NTC

Iran: The Iranian Foreign Ministry has announced that the Islamic Republic has voted in favor of transferring Libya's seat in the United Nations to the National Transitional Council (NTC).

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast made the remarks at a press conference in Tehran on Saturday, IRIB reported.

He noted that with the victory of the Muslim people of Libya, the Libyan revolution is on the right path and the NTC has become the political representative of the country, adding that the Islamic Republic of Iran respects the wishes of the Libyan nation and thus voted in favor of the move.

Mehmanparast expressed hope that stability and security would be established in Libya very soon and the reconstruction of the country would begin immediately.

The Iranian official also congratulated Libyans over the revolution and expressed hope that the country would maintain unity and solidarity.

On Friday, the UN General Assembly voted to hand Libya's seat in the world body to the NTC, which is expected to form the North African country's next government. It means that a senior council official will be able to join world leaders and speak for Libya at next week's ministerial session of the General Assembly.

Libya has been the scene of intense fighting between forces loyal to fugitive ruler Muammar Gaddafi and opposition fighters since the outbreak of a popular uprising, encouraged by the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions in January and February. AFP