Libyan Ambassador Saadun Suayeh is insisting he is “unequivocally” with the Libyan people in their “legitimate struggle for freedom and democracy”.

A day after The Times carried his carefully-worded reply on whether he planned to resign his post, Dr Suayeh opted to clarify his initial statement, which was couched in diplomatic language.

Dr Suayeh had said that in the current political circumstances it was better that he be perceived as “a supra-political figure” and insisted that in times of protracted conflict an embassy should be “depoliticised”.

“By being a supra-political figure it does not mean that I am not unequivocally on the side of the Libyan people in their legitimate struggle for freedom and democracy,” Dr Suayeh said yesterday, eager to clarify his words.

He acknowledged that he received critical feedback on his views and wanted to dispel any misconceptions that could have resulted. He did not specify what reactions he received and from whom.

Dr Suayeh also clarified the use of the word “depoliticised” and said: “It simply means that the embassy should provide its services to Libyan citizens without discrimination on grounds of their political affiliation.”

An academic, Dr Suayeh presented his credentials as ambassador in August last year. He has so far refused to go down the same path as other Libyan ambassadors in various countries and switch allegiance to the Benghazi-based Transitional National Council.

However, Dr Suayeh has insisted he does not represent the regime but the Libyan people and the state “as a sovereign entity under international law”.

While calling for the embassy to be depoliticised he also said this “did not absolve an embassy of its moral obligations or the necessity to take a stand at some point”.