Clinton To Africa: Dump Qaddafi

CNN reports:

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged countries in Africa on Monday to kick out diplomats representing the government of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

Clinton made the remarks at a meeting of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

She urged countries to "suspend the operations of Gadhafi's embassies in your countries," expel pro-Gadhafi diplomats and "increase contact and support" with the Transitional National Council, which represents the main opposition to Gadhafi's rule.

"Your words and actions could make the difference in bringing the situation finally to a close and allowing the people of Libya, on an inclusive basis, in a unified Libya, to get to work writing a constitution and rebuilding their country," she said.

A handful of countries, including France and Italy, have recognized the Transitional National Council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people. A larger number have agreed to provide it financial support.

The United States views the council "as the legitimate interlocutor for the Libyan people during this interim period," Clinton said last week in the United Arab Emirates.