Senegal to attend Libya Contact Group meeting in Istanbul - Senegal will be represented by its Foreign Minister, Madické Niang, at the meeting of the Libya Contact Group to be held on Friday in Istanbul, Turkey, a statement released by the foreign ministry said on Thursday. This will be the 4th meeting of the Libya Contact Group since it was set up at the beginning of the Libyan crisis. 'The invitation of Senegal to the meeting is due to the prominent role it has been playing to increase the awareness of African countries, especially on the need to find a quick solution to the crisis.'

The statement said 15 Foreign Ministers were expected to attend the meeting, including Hillary Clinton of the United States, Alain Juppe of France, Franco Frattini of Italy, and William Hague of the United Kingdom.

The statement said the meeting would be co-chaired by the Foreign Minister of Turkey, Ahmet Davutoglu and the head of diplomacy of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Sheikh Abdoullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade on 19 May declared that he recognized the head of the Libyan National Transitional Council (CNT), Moustapha Abdeljalil, and the political forces he represents as the body representing the historical and legitimate opposition in Libya.

To this end, Wade proposed the convening of a national conference, a constituent assembly and organization of elections in Libya.

He has visited Benghazi, the stronghold of the CNT, where he called on the Libyan leader, Mouamar Kadhafi, to 'retire from politics and not to dream of coming back'.

Pana 15/07/2011