EU’s Ashton vows backing to Libya rebels

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton yesterday opened a mission office in the rebel capital of Benghazi, hours after Nato bombed Tripoli port and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s compound.

“We are here for the long term,” Ms Ashton told a news conference at the Tibesti hotel where the European Union mission was opened and where she met Mustafa Abdul Jalil, head of the rebels’ National Transitional Council.

The opening of an EU office to represent the 27-member bloc coupled with the vow of long-term support came as a boost for the rebels lobbying world powers to formally recognise the NTC.

Ms Ashton called on Col Gaddafi, who has been at the helm of the north African nation for 41 years, to step down. “Gaddafi must leave and we must have a future for Libya which belongs to the people of Libya,” she said.

“The people of Libya have spoken about the future they want. I am here on behalf of all the 27 countries of the European Union to offer our support to that future,” she added.

The European Parliament has long argued for recognition of the NTC, which so far has been recognised by France, Italy, Qatar and Gambia, but Ms Ashton stressed it was up to the Libyan people to decide who represents them in future.

She said the EU recognises the council as an interlocutor. “They are people with whom we have a strong dialogue.”

The regime in Tripoli said Ms Ashton’s visit came as a “surprise” and that opening an EU office in rebel-held territory could be considered tantamount to the “recognition of an illegitimate entity.”

“This will have repercussions on Libya’s rapport with several EU countries and institutions,” Libya’s Foreign Ministry said.