Canada recognizes new Libyan envoy

Libya has a new envoy in Canada to representthe National Transitional Council, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird announced Thursday.

Abubaker Karmos has been appointed by the NTC, the governing authority now recognized by Canada as the replacement for Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's regime. Baird says Karmos' accreditation is complete and he has already assumed his functions.

On Friday, Karmos told CBC News he was getting access to the Libyan ambassador's residence in Ottawa. But more than $2 billion in Libyan assets frozen by the Canadian government in March have not yet been released to the NTC.

Chris Day, a spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, told CBC News that as far as the assets were concerned, the Canadian government is "examining all legal options and working with our international partners on next steps."

On Thursday, the United States released $1.5 billion in Libyan assets that were frozen in the United States and called for an expedited international process forlifting sanctions on Libyan assets.

Diplomatic ties restored

WithGadhafiviolently trying to crush a rebellion in his country, the Canadian government had withdrawn accreditation from five embassy staff loyal to his regime last May.The restwere expelled earlier this month. The move left Libyans in Canada without a point of contact for the crumbling government.

Canada closed its embassy in Tripoli and evacuated Canadians from the country last February.

Canada recognized the NTC as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people as the fighting raged in June. Baird also made a secret trip to Libya to meet with NTC representatives in late June.

"Canada will interact with the NTC as Libyas government until the Libyan people select for themselves elected representatives," Baird said in a statement Thursday, as he joined Karmos in raisingthe NTC flagto hang alongside flags from the rest of the world in his department's lobby.

"Canada urges all Libyans to immediately undertake a process of national reconciliation. We will support the NTC in developing governance and democratic institutional reforms."

Reports from the country indicate theanti-Gadhafi forces have control of most of Tripoli, Libya's capital, as well as other strategically important locations.

Baird says the Canadian embassy in Tripoli will reopen when it's safe enough to do so.