Libya's new rebel rulers were hailed by world leaders in Paris today and won key diplomatic recognition as ousted strongman Muammar Gaddafi issued a new barrage of threats from his desert hiding place.

Forty-two years to the day since Gaddafi stormed to power in a coup, senior envoys from 60 countries are meeting the leaders of the revolution that overthew him to endorse the fledgling regime and offer practical support.

The Elysee Palace guest list was a victory in itself for the rebel National Transitional Council, as once sceptical Russia and China and Libya's reluctant neighbour Algeria agreed to extend their backing to the new government.

Malta in represented by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.

As the talks began, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he would work with the Security Council to agree terms for an immediate UN mission to Libya to deal with a possible humanitarian crisis and help rebuild the state.

"Our most immediate challenge is humanitarian," he said. "Roughly 860,000 people have left the country since February, including skilled guest workers. Public services are under severe strain, including hospitals and clinics."

"There is a major water shortage. Meanwhile, sporadic fighting continues, particularly in the country's south," he said, adding that NTC, Arab, African and European leaders had all endorsed his plan.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged the rebels to beware the rise of extremism and safeguard arms dumps seized around the country to avoid them falling into the hands of militias or terrorists.

"Libya's new leadership will need to continue to stand against violent extremism and work with us to ensure that weapons from Gaddafi's stockpiles do not threaten Libya's neighbours and the world,"

In Libya, meanwhile, the NTC said it had granted remaining loyalist troops defending Gaddafi's hometown Sirte another week to surrender, although some rebel commanders denied any knowledge of the offer.

Gaddafi, who might once have marked the coup anniversary with a triumphant speech, was reduced to releasing his latest bluster on tape, vowing: "We will not surrender. We are not women and we are going to keep on fighting."

In Paris, all was smiles. France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, the rebels' most prominent foreign backer, welcomed NTC leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil to the Elysee Palace for the talks with good news on the diplomatic front.

Russia -- which opposed NATO's military support for the rebels' battle to overthrow him -- said it recognised the NTC as Libya's "ruling authority".

China, which also had reservations about the air campaign, did not go so far, but said it "respects the choice made by the Libyan people and attaches importance to the significant position and role played by the NTC.

"We are willing to maintain close contact with it and push forward the smooth progress of China-Libyan relations," the foreign ministry said.

Of the major powers, only African Union heavyweight South Africa continued to snub the NTC. President Jacob Zuma boycotted the talks and said his country was "not happy" with NATO's decision to bombGaddafi 's forces.

Russian and Chinese recognition were major diplomatic victories for the NTC regime, but the Algerian turnabout may prove of more immediate practical help in cutting off a potential Gaddafi escape route.

Libya's larger neighbour has been accused of supplying Gaddafi with arms and, after members of the fallen leader's family fled there, it was seen as a likely escape route for the strongman and his loyal sons.

But Algeria's Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci, in Paris for the conference, welcomed the NTC promise to set up a "government representative of all regions" and added: "When it has done so, we'll recognise it."

"The hypothesis that Mr Gaddafi could come knocking on our door was never considered," he insisted.

The talks began against the backdrop of a new Gaddafi rant in which he urged his supporters to keep up their resistance to the rebellion that has forced him into hiding.

"Even if you cannot hear my voice, continue the resistance," he said, in a message from a secret location. Gaddafi and his son Seif al-Islam have gone underground since rebels stormed into Tripoli on August 20.

"If they want a long battle, let it be long. If Libya burns, who will be able to govern it? Let it burn," declared Gaddafi.

Rebel officials say Gaddafi may be in the town of Bani Walid, south of the capital and still held by loyalist troops, but other reports suggest he could be in his hometown Sirte in Ghadames, near the Algerian border.

This evening's conference in the French capital will discuss funding for Libya -- in particular the unblocking of assets frozen by UN sanctions -- as well as police training and diplomatic recognition for its new rulers.

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