Libya expels Syrian diplomats

Syrian diplomats in Libya have been given a 72-hour deadline to leave the country, the Libyan foreign ministry said on Thursday. The Syrian embassy in Tripoli was attacked by protestors on February 4. Protesters hoisted the Free Syrian Flag and took over the embassy. Libya, ruled by the National Transitional Council (NTC) was the first country to recogise the opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) as the legitimate government of Syria. The Libyan foreign ministry said in a press release that the move to expel the Syrian Charge d' Affaires and the embassy staff was aimed to show solidarity with the Syrian people and to denounce the brutal crackdown by the security forces. It added that the Libyan people know the value of freedom and they can only stand with oppressed peoples.