Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski on Wednesday (May 11) became the first senior government representative from the international Contact Group on Libya to visit the rebel stronghold of Benghazi since it rose up against Muammar Gaddafi's rule in February.
The Contact Group comprises the United States, major European nations and some Arab states.
At a joint news conference with Sikorski, Abdelhafeez Ghoga, official spokesman of the rebels' National Transitional Council (NTC) welcom Read more

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski on Wednesday (May 11) became the first senior government representative from the international Contact Group on Libya to visit the rebel stronghold of Benghazi since it rose up against Muammar Gaddafi's rule in February.
The Contact Group comprises the United States, major European nations and some Arab states.
At a joint news conference with Sikorski, Abdelhafeez Ghoga, official spokesman of the rebels' National Transitional Council (NTC) welcomed the Polish foreign minister's visit.
"We have welcomed his Excellency the Foreign Minister of our friend Poland as the first European foreign minister to come to the National Transitional Council in Benghazi. Poland is one of the country members of the Contact Group as you all know. This is considered a huge support to the National Transitional Council and the revolution of the Libyan people; we welcome this big step and hope that it is the start of a very good relationship."
Sikorski, whose nation assumes the European Union's rotating presidency in July, said he was visiting Libya in consultation with the High Representative for Foreign Policy of the European Union, Baroness Ashton, to lend support to the Libyan rebels.
"We admire what you are doing," he said, addressing his remarks to the NTC spokesman.
"We recognize the council as the legitimate interlocutor of the international community and as a representative of the democratic aspirations of the Libyan people," said Sikorski, who met rebel leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil during his visit.
Some European countries such as France have recognised the rebels' NTC as the official representative of Libya but others including Poland have stopped short of full recognition, worried this could trigger a complete partition of the country.
In accordance with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's commitment to provide humanitarian aid, Sikorski's plane carried crates of medical supplies for Libyans.
Usually a staunch NATO ally, Poland came under fire in some quarters for refusing to take part in the alliance-led military operations against Gaddafi's forces.
Earlier on Wednesday, Ashton told the European Parliament in Strasbourg that the EU would open an office in Benghazi to provide help to the rebel council on health care, education and security sector reform Close