Libya condemns UK recognition of fighters

Libya: The government of Muammar Gaddafi has denounced Britain’s decision to recognise the Libyan opposition as the sole legitimate authority in the country.

The UK’s decision is “irresponsible, illegal and in violation of British and international laws”, Khaled Kaim, Libya’s deputy foreign minister, said in Tripoli, the Libyan capital, on Wednesday night.

He said Gaddafi’s government “will take necessary actions” and pursue a legal challenge to the recognition in both British and international courts.

The recognition of the National Transitional Council (NTC) was announced by William Hague, the UK foreign minister, on Wednesday and came 12 days after the US made a similar move. Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, announced recognition for the NTC at a meeting in Turkey of the international “contact group” on Libya on July 15.

Thursday, Al Jazeera