Nairobi, Kenya - Kenyan officials have called on the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) to negotiate with pro-Mouammar Kadhafi regime members on ways of ending the conflict in the north African country, and denied its embassy was targeted by the rebel forces in Tripoli.

Kenya’s Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula said Thursday the looting of the Kenyan Ambassador’s residence in Tripoli was a “mere criminal act.”

Wetangula, who spoke during a meeting with US Ambassador to Kenya Jonathan Scott Gration, reiterated the need for NTC to reach out to all parties who are keen on ending the on-going conflict.

Kenya’s Foreign Ministry said the two also discussed the African Union engagement in Libya.

The AU declined to recognise the NTC, saying only a universally-accepted government would be allowed to take the Libyan seat at the AU.

Kenya, a current member of the Peace and Security Council (PSC), insisted that it would stick to the AU position and has lately back-tracked on its earlier pledge to work with the NTC in rebuilding Libya from conflict.

Kenya has been under intense international pressure to break diplomatic ties with the KadhafI regime in Libya but Nairobi refused to freeze the Libyan assets in Kenya.

According to the minister, the Libyan investments in Kenya belonged to the Libyan government, through the country’s sovereign fund, the Libyan African Investment (LAP), which owns one of the leading oil marketing firms and a leading tourist hotel in the Kenyan capital, among others.

Meanwhile, the two discussed the commencement of direct flights between Kenya and USA.

Wetangula said the direct flights would enhance trade, tourism and investment into the country and increased trade volumes.

Technology advancement would also enable Kenya to benefit from business process outsourcing to tap into the human capital, time difference and language skills which Kenya enjoy.

The minister assured of Kenya’s willingness to cooperate with the US to strengthen economic and political relations between the two countries.

On his part, Gration reiterated his government’s commitment to help in implementing the new constitution.

Pana 02/09/2011