Al Arabiya And AFP, 18 July 2011- Days after the United States formerly recognized Libya’s rebel opposition as the legitimate government of the Libyan people, US envoys recently held a rare meeting with representatives of Muammar Qaddafi’s regime and urged Mr. Qaddafi to cede power, a US official said on Monday.

No further details were immediately available about where the meeting took place.
The United States and other Western powers on Friday recognized the Libyan rebel council in an important diplomatic step which could unlock billions of dollars in frozen Libyan funds.

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced Washington’s move at an Istanbul conference, which also agreed a road map whereby Colonel Qaddafi should relinquish power and plans for Libya’s transition to democracy under the rebel National Transitional Council (TNC).

“Until an interim authority is in place, the United States will recognize the TNC as the legitimate governing authority for Libya, and we will deal with it on that basis,” Mrs. Clinton said in prepared remarks.

On Friday, the Libya contact group also recognized the rebel council as the country’s “legitimate governmental authority.”
Secretary Clinton also said that the Libya council has given assurances on transparency and democratic reforms, and that the ceasefire terms clear, must involve Mr. Qaddafi’s departure

The group of major Western and regional powers also urged “all relevant parties” to make efforts “for the formation of an interim government to ensure a smooth and peaceful transition of power,” said the statement, to be formally issued at the end of a meeting in Istanbul later Friday.

More than 30 nations have declared Colonel Qaddafi’s regime in Libya is no longer legitimate.