EU's Ashton vows backing to Libya rebels

BENGHAZI: EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Sunday opened a mission office in the rebel capital of Benghazi, hours after NATO bombed Tripoli port and Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi's compound.

"We are here for the long term," Ashton told a news conference at the Tibesti hotel where the European Union mission was opened and where she met Mustafa Abdul Jalil, head of the rebels' National Transitional Council.

The opening of an EU office to represent the 27-member bloc coupled with the vow of long-term support came as a boost for the rebels lobbying world powers to formally recognise the NTC.

Ashton called on Kadhafi, who has been at the helm of the north African nation for 41 years, to step down. "Kadhafi must leave and we must have a future for Libya which belongs to the people of Libya," she said.

"The people of Libya have spoken about the future they want. I am here on behalf of all the 27 countries of the European Union to offer our support to that future," she added.

The European parliament has long argued for recognition of the NTC, which so far has been recognised by France, Italy, Qatar and Gambia, but Ashton stressed it was up to the Libyan people to decide who represents them in future.

She said the EU recognises the council as an interlocutor. "They are people with whom we have a strong dialogue."

The regime in Tripoli said Ashton's visit came as a "surprise" and that opening an EU office in rebel-held territory could be considered tantamount to the "recognition of an illegitimate entity."

"This will have repercussions on Libya's rapport with several EU countries and institutions," Libya's foreign ministry said.

It said the "EU alongside other members of the international community should contribute to the search for a peaceful solution that protects Libyan lives and reinforces Libya's unity and territorial integrity."

Ashton said "protecting the civilians of Libya is fundamental" and vowed the EU would assist the rebels on border management, which is of critical concern due to violence on the mountain ranges near the border with Tunisia.

"Too many people have died already," she said.

Just hours ahead of Ashton's visit, NATO-led warplanes struck Tripoli port and Kadhafi's immense compound of Bab al-Aziziya near the capital.

"There were two raids on the port and Bab al-Aziziya," the residence of Kadhafi which has already been targeted several times, a regime official said about the strikes early on Sunday.

An AFP journalist heard two explosions just past midnight and a fighter plane flying over Tripoli at low altitude, indicating NATO's sustained air campaign against Kadhafi forces.

International correspondents were taken to Kadhafi's residence in a regime-chartered bus but were unable to access the compound.

On Saturday, the Western military alliance struck one "naval asset in Sirte" -- Kadhafi's hometown -- apart from some other military targets, said NATO.

The alliance took command of the air campaign on March 30 from French, US and British forces, who under a UN mandate launched air strikes on Kadhafi forces to protect civilians.

Late Thursday, NATO also struck eight vessels of Kadhafi's navy, prompting the Libyan authorities to accuse the military alliance of seeking to place the country under "siege."

NATO said it carried out "precision strikes" on vessels in the ports of Tripoli, Al-Khums and in Sirte. (AFP)