Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - The African Union (AU) has lifted Libya's suspension and allowed the National Transitional Council (NTC) to occupy the country's seat at the continental body, following Thursday's death of ousted leader Mouammar Kadhafi by NTC fighters. The Peace and Security Council (PSC), of which Libya is a member, lifted the suspension ‘under exceptional circumstances’ and ‘without prejudice’ to the relevant laws, which ban unconstitutional governments from occupying power. The PSC said the circumstances in Libya were exceptional and unique, with the departure of the long-serving leader Kadhafi.

“The PSC decided to authorize the current authorities in Libya to occupy the seat of Libya in the AU organs,” the PSC said in a statement late Thursday.

NTC fighters reportedly captured the former leader alive before killing him, during the battle for his hometown of Sirte.

Earlier, the AU had insisted that it would only lift the suspension of Libya after the NTC agreed to protect the interest of the migrant workers, mainly from the sub-Saharan Africa, who have been harassed, arrested and detained by the NTC fighers.

Pana 20/10/2011