Maldives Suspended all diplomatic ties with the Libyan regime of Ghaddafi

Maldives yesterday has suspended all diplomatic ties with the Libyan regime of Colonel Muammar Ghaddafi.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the government decided to suspend all diplomatic ties with the Libyan regime of Colonel Muammar Ghaddafi,  following the government’s decision, on 3 April, to recognise the Transitional National Council (TNC) as the sole legitimate body representing the Libyan people.

Miadhu Daily understands that Maldives was the third country to recognize the TNC after France and Qatar. 

Following the recognition of the TNC, the suspension of diplomatic relations with the pro-Gaddafi regime is based on the continuing deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation in Libya, and increasingly clear evidence that the Gaddafi regime is guilty of crimes against humanity and war crimes. 

Earlier, President Mohamed Nasheed said that “Maldives will always support people who stand up against human rights violations.”

“The Libyan National Transition Council has become the sole legitimate representative of Libya and its people,” the President added.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Naseem, explained that the decision to recognise the Libyan National Transition Council was based on two considerations.

Firstly, through its actions including gross and systemic human rights violations, which appear to amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, the government of Muammar Gaddafi has lost its legitimacy and its right to govern.

Secondly, the Maldives notes that the Libyan National Transition Council, including all of its representatives in the various parts of Libya, has practically become the only legitimate and popularly-supported representative of the Libyan people.

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