Libyan Transitional Council Seeks Local Council Support

The general secretary of Libya’s National Transitional Council [NTC] says a nationwide meeting of opposition delegates will end today in rebel-controlled Benghazi.

Abdul Karim said the objective of the meeting is to gain more support from local councils across the country in their fight to force Moammar Gadhafi to step down.

“The main goal is to get rid of 42 years of dictatorship,” said Karim.

Representatives from 25 local councils recently met in Qatar’s capital, Doha to express their support for the revolution and the NTC.

Karim said his group will not relent in its endeavor to fight for freedom for Libyans. To establish a system, he said, that will “let all the people freely choose the government and the system for a new free Libya.”

The NTC has called on the international community to provide it with advanced weapons to enable the opposition defeat the better-equipped pro-Gadhafi forces.

“I believe it is legal and is also part of the United Nations resolution to protect civilians,” said Karim.

Meanwhile, the State Department said the first load of non-lethal American military aid for the rebels landed Tuesday in Benghazi.

The shipment comes ahead of planned meetings in Washington this week between U.S. officials and senior members of the Transitional National Council.