African Union recognises Libya’s NTC - The African Union (AU) on Tuesday announced that it had officially recognized Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) as the country's legitimate leadership, ending a period of uncertainty over the issue.

According to South African President Jacob Zuma’s office, the NTC - formed to shepherd the rebellion that all but ousted Mouammar Kadhafi -  is now officially recognised as the representative of the Libyan people and will occupy the Libyan seat at the AU.

Zuma, who last week hosted a meeting of the AU's special panel on Libya in Pretoria, played a pivotal role in trying to secure a political breakthrough in the north African country.

However, Zuma and the AU's reluctance to formally recognize Libya's new leadership had created deep divisions around the continent and between Africa and NATO, which played a key role in ousting Kadhafi.

Tuesday’s announcement was conveyed by Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, the current AU Chairman, who consulted with the panel in New York, ahead of the UN General Assembly. 

'The African Union stands ready to support the Libyan people... as they rebuild their country towards a united, democratic, peaceful and prosperous Libya,' the panel said in a statement.

Pana 21/09/2011