Gaddafi’s government criticized the UK decision to recognize the rebels’ National Transitional Council (NTC) as the legitimate authority in the African country.

Libyan embattled Leader Muammar Gaddafi’s government criticized the UK decision to recognize the rebels’ National Transitional Council (NTC) as the legitimate authority in the African country.

The UK's decision is "irresponsible, illegal and in violation of British and international laws", Libya's deputy foreign minister, Khaled Kaim, said in Tripoli Wednesday night.
He said Gaddafi's government "will take necessary actions" and pursue a legal challenge to the recognition in both British and international courts.

"SOLE GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY"
Earlier on Wednesday, Britain officially recognized Libyan rebels’ National Transitional Council (NTC) as "the sole governmental authority” in the country, and asked all diplomats belonging to embattled Leader Muammar Gaddafi to leave the United Kingdom.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said the council had been invited to send an ambassador to London, adding that "we will deal with the National Transitional Council on the same basis as other governments around the world."
The Libyan charge d'affaires was summoned Wednesday morning and informed that all eight remaining staff and their dependents must leave the country within three days, the Foreign Office said.

"In line with this decision, we summoned the Libyan charge d'affaires here to the foreign office this morning and informed him that he and other regime diplomats from the Gaddafi regime must now leave the United Kingdom", Hague said.

"We no longer recognize them as the representatives of the Libyan government and we are inviting the Libyan National Transitional Council to appoint a new Libyan diplomatic envoy to take over the Libyan embassy in London".

The current charge d'affaires and all eight remaining staff and their dependents have three days to leave the country, the UK foreign office said.