Italy recognizes Libyan opposition

ROME, April 4 (UPI) -- Italy announced Monday it was sending a special envoy to Libya to talk with rebel forces as Rome becomes the latest to recognize the opposition leadership.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said Monday that Rome recognized the opposition Libyan National Transitional Council as the legitimate leader of the Libyan people, The Wall Street Journal reports.

France and Qatar have recognized the transitional council as the legitimate leader of Libya. Western allies say military action in Libya isn't about removing embattled leader Moammar Gadhafi from power, though White House officials last week said the "overall goal" was getting Gadhafi to stand down.

Frattini said the recognition was part of an effort in Rome to start discussing oil operations with rebel leaders in Libya. Italy was Libya's largest trading partner.

"We have decided to recognize the council as the only political, legitimate interlocutor to represent Libya," the foreign minister said.

Officials close to Frattini told the Journal that Rome was planning to send a delegation to rebel-held Benghazi to discuss forming judicial and other political systems.

Greek officials were quoted by al-Jazeera as saying that Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Abdul Ati al-Obeidi suggested the Gadhafi regime might be interested in negotiating.

"The Libyan envoy wanted to convey that his country has the intention to negotiate," one Greek official said on condition of anonymity. "We don't think that there can be a military solution to this crisis."