http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12699183
France has become the first country to recognise the Libyan rebel
leadership, the National Libyan Council (NLC), as the country's
legitimate government.
It come as Nato is set to discuss military options in the Libyan
conflict including a possible no-fly zone.
There is growing concern about the bombing of rebel-held areas by the
forces of Col Muammar Gaddafi.
A BBC team which were detained and beaten up in Libya witnessed
widespread mistreatment by the security forces.
In recent days pro-Gaddafi forces have tried to regain ground in the
east, and have bombarded rebel forces in the town of Zawiya, 50km (30
miles) west of Tripoli.
The Red Cross president said on Thursday there was a marked increase
in civilian casualties in what he called a "civil war".
The step was announced by the French presidency, a day after Euro-MPs
urged the EU to recognise the rebels.
On Thursday the office of President Nicolas Sarkozy said France
regarded the NLC as Libya's "legitimate representative".
Earlier EU foreign affairs chief, Baroness Ashton, said she was not
mandated to take such a step herself. An NLC envoy has been lobbying
Europe for support.
EU diplomats told the BBC: "We need to see who these people are and
whether they are truly representative of the opposition."
They added that it was important to work in conjunction with the Arab
League.
The conflict in Libya has raged since mid-February when opponents to
his 41-year rule seized many towns and cities in eastern Libya,
following successful popular uprisings in neighbouring Tunisia and
Egypt.
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