Paris recognizes Libyan opposition

PARIS, March 10 (UPI) -- France recognized the Libyan opposition movement Thursday as the representative of the Libyan people, a former Libyan envoy said from Paris.

Ali al-Issawi, the former Libyan envoy to India, announced in Paris that France recognized "the (Interim Transitional) National Council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people," reports French news agency France 24.

Imane Boughaighis, a media representative for the Libyan council, told the news agency the opposition movement hoped the French move would trigger similar responses from European governments.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, however, said Rome was taking a wait-and-see approach to the Libyan crisis.

"I think it's better for us to listen to the stance of the entire European community," he was quoted by the French news agency as saying.

Italy is a main European trading partner with Libya. It imports about 25 percent of its oil and more than 10 percent of its natural gas from Libya.

The French recognition of the national council comes as Western allies meet in Brussels with NATO members to discuss a no-fly zone over Libya.

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is accused of war crimes in response to an uprising last month. His military allegedly fired on unarmed civilian demonstrators in February.

U.S. officials have expressed reluctance over a no-fly zone, saying it would be considered an act of war.