UAE gives Libyan diplomat 72 hours to leave the country

ABU DHABI // The Libyan ambassador to the UAE, Omar al Ghanai, was expected to leave the Emirates yesterday, according to embassy officials.

The UAE formally recognised the interim Transitional National Council as the legitimate government of Libya on Sunday.

A day later, a diplomat said that the UAE had given the ambassador 72 hours to leave the country. "Therefore, his diplomatic mission in the country ends within 72 hours and he must leave," the diplomat said.

Arrangements were made yesterday to move furniture out of the villa from where the embassy was based.

The buildings that have been used by the Libyan embassy are owned by the UAE.

The Libyan consulate in Dubai, however, simply plans to close until such time as a new representative can take over.

Officials at both the consul and the embassy were unsure about what would come next, both in terms of their own employment and the future of the embassy.

Libya's Transitional National Council has also been recognised by Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Gambia, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Malta, Qatar, Senegal, Spain and the United States.

hhamid@thenational.ae