The UK has officially recognized the main Libyan opposition group as the legitimate government of the country, and instructed all diplomats belonging to Col. Muammar Qaddafi’s administration to leave Britain. Foreign Secretary William Hague on Wednesday announced that the UK would freeze $150m worth of Libya’s oil assets to assist the National Transitional Council (NTC), which the country recognizes as “the sole governmental authority in Libya”. Meanwhile, Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Karim told reporters in Tripoli that the UK’s decision to recognize the NTC was “irresponsible, illegal and in violation of British and international laws.”

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Muammar Qaddafi could be allowed to stay in Libya given that he steps down, according to France, indicating a new initiative to find a political solution to a military campaign that has up to now failed to overthrow the Libyan leader. Talking to France’s LCI TV, Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said global powers were ready to allow Qaddafi to stay in Libya once he quits. The new proposal reflects an understanding that it will be difficult, if not impossible, to drive Qaddafi out of Tripoli by persuasion or force.

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President Obama on Wednesday told Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that he backs Moscow’s mediation initiatives to resolve the Libyan crisis, but on the condition that Col. Muammar Qaddafi should resign. Repeating a stance recently conveyed by American officials, Obama said in a meeting with the Russian minister in White House that he was “prepared to support negotiations that lead to a democratic transition in Libya as long as Qaddafi steps aside.”

Meanwhile, Russia and China have announced they would not participate in a Libya Contact Group conference due to be held on Friday in Istanbul, which will discuss a Turkish backed road-map for a political solution. Russia, which is against NATO campaign in Libya, has turned down the invitation of Turkey, whereas China, which has adopted a non-interference policy, hasn’t confirmed it will attend the conference.

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Col Muammar Qaddafi is ready to leave, France’s foreign minister stated Tuesday citing representatives of the Libyan leader, in the strongest sign so far the embattled dictator is planning to step down. Though Alain Juppe denies any direct talks with Qaddafi’s regime, he confirmed that Libyan officials were in touch with his representatives, and the message was clear. “Everyone (involved in Libya’s civil war) has contacts with everyone else. The Libyan regime sends its messengers all over, to Turkey, to New York, to Paris. We receive emissaries who are saying, ‘Gaddafi is prepared to leave. Let’s talk about it,'” Juppe said in an interview.

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If confirmed, France’s supply of arms to Libyan tribes is a clear violation of the United Nations Security Council resolution, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday. Reports in French media suggested that arms were distributed to Berber tribal militia in the mountains southwest of the capital Tripoli without the knowledge of other coalition partners participating in the campaign against Col. Qaddafi. Reports claimed the weapons included light armored vehicles and anti-tank rockets. Thierry Burkhard, spokesperson for the French general staff, admitted Wednesday that weapons distribution did take place but said that only light arms were airdropped.

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A high-ranking American general who is part of the Libyan operation has revealed that NATO is attempting to kill Colonel Muammar Qaddafi, said a member of the US Congress. In the first such acknowledgement, commander of NATO’s Joint Operations Command in Naples, Admiral Samuel Locklear, said efforts to target the Libyan ruler were being stepped up, despite Obama administration’s repeated claims that “regime change” wasn’t the aim. The admiral’s remarks were revealed by Ohio Republican Mike Turner, who is a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

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Syrian President Bashar Assad and Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi have both managed to survive the uprisings against them as well the pressures they faced from Europe and the US. Now informed sources say that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and US President Obama have reached a mutual understanding during their meetings in Deauville on the sidelines of G-8 summit over the fate of the two Arab leaders. Obama has reportedly promised the Russian president to allow Assad to end the revolt against him without facing too much pressure from America or the West. In response, Medvedev has offered to help America end the Libyan conflict by bringing out Qaddafi’s removal from power. Thus, the two powers have traded Assad for Qaddafi.

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French and American presidents on Friday rejected the Qaddafi government’s latest truce offer and reiterated demands for the overthrow of the regime, while Britain confirmed that its gunship helicopters will be sent to the mission to increase pressure on Qaddafi to step down. The Libyan government, under intense pressure from the Western military campaign, had made its latest truce offer on Thursday, saying for the first time it was ready to negotiate with the rebel leadership in control of the eastern part of the country.

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Context
Eleven British advisors have joined a large number of military trainers from Italy and France to assist the Libyan rebel Transitional National Council in establishing an operational command unit capable of confronting the Qaddafi regime. A top European diplomat, active in fostering ties with rebels in their stronghold of Benghazi, said that the establishment of a “joint operations center” with the support of Western trainers would help improve “military capacity”. The involvement of Britain, however, will raise concerns that the country might be dragged into the military campaign in Libya and seems to contradict Foreign Secretary William Hague’s pledge that military advisors wouldn’t train rebel fighters.

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The EU is to set up an office in Libyan rebel-controlled town of Benghazi to bolster support for the anti-Qaddafi forces, according to EU’s foreign policy director Catherine Ashton. “I intend to open an office in Benghazi so that we can move forward on the support we’ve discussed to the people,” said Ashton on Wednesday. The purpose of this office will be to “support civil society, to support the interim national council… to support security sector reform, to build on what the people ask us to,” she continued. NATO, which is carrying out air assaults against Qaddafi forces, has also decided to open a civilian post in Benghazi to enhance political ties with the rebels.

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