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African Union unready to recognize Libya’s TNC

The African Union is still unready to recognize Libya’s Transitional National Council (TNC) as the legitimate authority

PARIS, September 2 (Itar-Tass) —— The African Union is still unready to recognize Libya’s Transitional National Council (TNC) as the legitimate authority, AU Commission Chairman Jean Ping said on Thursday commenting on the results of the international meeting on Libya.

“This is not the way to be decided,” he said adding TNC representatives committed to protect African workers in the country.

“We are waiting for the hostilities to end,” Ping said.

The African Union refused to recognize the TNC yet at its meeting on August 26 and proposed a road map for Libya that called for a transitional government of all parties, including supporters of Muammar Gaddafi. The Union said the situation in Libya was insufficiently stable for the recognition of the new authority.

After the Paris meeting TNC spokesman Mahmoud Shammam said members of the interim council will not run for political office for four years.

“We are not going to run for four years, there will be no political role for four years, that's for the TNC,” he said.

In the meantime Gaddafi threatened a guerilla war against insurgents.

“Let it be a long battle. We will fight from place to place, from town to town, from valley to valley, from mountain to mountain," Gaddafi said in a message aired by satellite TV. “Be ready for a war of gangs and urban warfare,” he threatened.

“If Libya goes up in flames, who will be able to govern it? Let it burn," Gaddafi said in a message timed to the 42nd anniversary of the revolution that brought him to power.