British foreign secretary visits Benghazi

BENGHAZI, Libya, June 4 (UPI) -- British Foreign Secretary William Hague called the rebels "the legitimate representative of the Libyan people" as he arrived Saturday in Benghazi.

Hague and Andrew Mitchell, the secretary of state for international development, made a surprise stop in the rebel stronghold on their way to a meeting of the Libya Contact Group in Abu Dhabi, The Daily Telegraph reported. They were to meet with the National Transitional Council.

"We are here today for one principal reason -- to show our support for the Libyan people and for the National Transitional Council, the legitimate representative of the Libyan people," Hague said.

Hague arrived a few hours after British Apache helicopters made their first attack on Col. Moammar Gadhafi's forces. The helicopter raid targeted a radar station and a checkpoint.

"Britain remains a strong and true friend of Libya. We could not and did not turn a blind eye when Gadhafi turned his forces against innocent civilians," Hague said in his statement. "For as long as Gadhafi continues to abuse his people, we will continue and intensify our efforts to stop him."