Egypt, Kuwait, Palestinians Recognize Libya Rebel Govt.
Libya's rebel government gained more Arab recognition on Monday, a day after its fighters overran the heart of the capital in their push to take full control from regime loyalists and end a six-month uprising against Moammar Kadhafi's 42-year rule.
Egypt, Libya's eastern neighbor, recognized the council as the legitimate government after holding back so far on supporting the rebels, who started their uprising days after an Egyptian revolt ended president Hosni Mubarak's three decade rule.
"It pleases me at this historical occasion to announce that Egypt recognizes the new regime in Libya and the National Transitional Council that represents it," Egypt's Foreign Minister Mohammed Amr said at a joint news conference with Abdel Moneim al-Huweini, the rebel envoy to Cairo and the Arab League.
Kuwait followed suit, with the foreign ministry renewing "the support ... for the NTC as the sole and legitimate representative of the Libyan people," a statement cited by the official KUNA news agency said.
A group of about 30 Libyans living in Kuwait lowered and burned the flag of Gadhafi's regime at the embassy in Kuwait City, hoisted the rebel flag and tore down pictures of the Libyan leader that were inside the embassy.
In Jordan, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, who urged a "swift and peaceful" transfer of power in Libya, said the NTC "has a key role to play" in helping "different powers there to agree on a roadmap for democracy."
"We hope the tragic situation and bloodshed in Libya would end. Libya should be rebuilt in a way that preserves its unity, stability and security," he told the state-run Petra news agency.
The Palestinian Authority also said it recognizes the National Transitional Council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people.
"The Palestinian state, the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization recognize the NTC and hope that the Libyan people will quickly go back to a normal life," a spokesman for president Mahmoud Abbas said.
"We respect the Libya people's struggle for freedom," added the spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina.
Meanwhile the Islamist Hamas movement in Gaza issued a statement welcoming the "toppling" of Gadhafi's regime.
Source: Agence France Presse
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