Danish officials deny formal recognition of Libyan rebels

Copenhagen has denied reports that it had formally recognised Libya’s rebel movement organisation.

Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC) has announced that Denmark is among the nations that had recognised it as a legitimate entity. However the country issued a statement last Thursday saying that it hadn’t changed its official position regarding the NTC.

The statement indicated that it was “In response to news reports that are incorrectly suggesting that Denmark has formally recognised NTC,” AsiaOne News reports.

However despite downplaying the NTC’s claim, officials acknowledged the council was a leading force for creating political stability in Libya, according to the statement: “Denmark recognises – in accordance with the decision of the European Council – the NTC as a relevant dialogue partner.”

It went on: “But at present NTC appears to be the political actor which has the greatest potential to create the positive political dynamic that would ensure an outreach to a broad representation of political actors in the country.”

Other countries that have formally recognised the NTC include Italy, France and Qatar. The council is based in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi in the northeast of Libya.