Libyan Regime Plans to Cut Ties with Paris over Recognizing Rebels

Libya is planning to cut its diplomatic relations with France after French President Nicolas Sarkozy recognized rebels opposed to Moammar Gadhafi, the official Jana news agency reported Thursday.

The Tripoli government would "consider severing ties with France after information about the dangerous intervention in Libyan affairs," a foreign ministry official was quoted as saying by Jana.

"A country like France cannot be stupid enough to recognize such people who only represent themselves," the official said.

France on Thursday became the first country to recognize Libya's opposition national council as its rightful representatives, and will send an ambassador to rebel-held territory, officials in Paris said.

"France has recognized the national transition council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people," one of the opposition body's envoys, Ali al-Issawi, told reporters after meeting with Sarkozy on Thursday.

"On the basis of this recognition, we are going to open a diplomatic mission, that is our own embassy in Paris, and an ambassador from France will be sent to Benghazi," a key rebel-held city, he added.

"This ambassador will be in Benghazi for a transition period before returning to Tripoli."

A French presidential official confirmed Issawi's statement but declined to give further details.

The national council on Saturday declared itself Libya's sole representative at its first meeting in Benghazi, the rebel stronghold city in the North African country's east.