Obama administration invites Libyan opposition to White House for meetings Friday

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Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is stepping up its engagement with forces fighting Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, inviting opposition leaders to meet with U.S. officials at the White House Friday, while stopping short of recognizing their council as Libya’s legitimate government.

The White House said Mahmoud Jibril, a representative of the Libyan Transitional National Council, would meet with senior administration officials, including National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, as well as members of Congress. But there were no plans for President Barack Obama to meet with Jibril and his delegation.

France and Italy are among the nations that recognize the Council as Libya’s legitimate government. But White House press secretary Jay Carney said Thursday that while the U.S. would continue consulting and assisting the opposition, giving the Council political legitimacy would be “premature.”

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama_administration_invites_libyan_opposition_to_white_house_for_meetings_friday/2011/05/12/AFSy4HzG_story.html