African Union reassured by Libyan council promises

African Union reassured by Libyan council promises

The African Union was encouraged by pledges made by Libya's transitional council on Thursday and will now discuss with its member states the possibility of recognising the interim leadership, a senior official said.

"We were reassured today by the commitments made by Mr. Jibril on the protection of African workers, reconciliation and creation of a national unity governmemnt," Noureddine Mezni, the spokesman for theAU Commission's chairman.

"There were concerns among member states for the African workers in Libya and the creation of a unity government ... We will now take what was said today to our members," he said after an international meeting in Paris on Libya's future.

Many countries, including Russia, now formally recognise the National Transitional Council as the legitimate power in Libya but several African states, including South Africa, have yet to do so.

South Africa boycotted Thursday's conference, hosted by Britain and France.

"We have left the freedom to the member states to recognise the NTC," Mezni said.

Russia recognises NTC

Meanwhile, Russia has recognised the National Transitional Council as Libya's legitimate authority in an attempt to protect its economic interests in the country.

Under the Gaddafi government, Russia agreed oil, infrastructure and arms contracts worth billions of dollars. They have been frozen since the conflict began.

Russian officials have expressed concern they could now be lost under the new regime.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said: "The Russian Federation recognises the National Transitional Council (NTC) as the current authorities."

"We proceed from the position that all previously agreed treaties and other mutual obligations ... will be implemented in good faith."

Russian Railways was building a high-speed rail link from Sirte to Benghazi under a £2bn contract awarded during Gaddafi's rule.

Gazprom, Gazprom Neft and Tatneft have invested hundreds of millions of pounds in oil and gas exploration in Libya and a 600m euro contract for the supply of anti-missile systems was shut down just days before the UN resolution.

Russia's representative at the Paris summit, special Africa envoy Mikhail Margelov, said he was confident that existing contracts would be respected.

Russia allowed Nato intervention in Libya to go ahead by withholding its veto from the UN Security Council resolution vote.

Reuters/Iheanacho