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U.S. is consulting with the Libyan rebels about giving it diplomatic accreditation or representation including opening an embassy in Washington, a senior administration official said, a day after Britain expelled diplomats from the Qadhafi regime.
“We did yesterday receive an official request from the National Transitional Council (NTC) regarding the reopening of the Libyan embassy here in Washington, and we’re reviewing that request,†State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters at his daily news conference.
“We are consulting with the National Transitional Council on a broad range of issues, and that includes diplomatic accreditation and representation.
“Legally, they are able to appoint diplomats and reopen their embassy in Washington with our consent, of course,†he said.
Mr. Toner said the NTC wants to reopen their embassy as the recognised Government of Libya.
“We need to discuss on the table – diplomatic status accreditation, representation are among those issues. We are looking at them, we’re talking with the NTC about them, and they did finally send an official request regarding reopening of their embassy, and we’re reviewing that request. We’ll work through these issues,†he said.
By recognising the NTC, he said, the U.S. was able to unfreeze some, not all, of Libya’s frozen assets.
“We are working through the many legal issues that we have to work through in order for that to happen,†he added.
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