Libyan ambassador in Zimbabwe faces deportation

Libya's ambassador to Zimbabwe Taher Elmagrahi is facing deportation after he defected to the rebel National Transition Council (NTC) that is now in control of Libya, Zimbabwe's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said. The ministry said his defection to the NATO-backed NTC on Wednesday means that he no longer represents the Libyan Government. The NTC has no legal status in Harare as Zimbabwe does not have diplomatic relations with it, Foreign Affairs Minister Joey Bimha was quoted as saying by the Herald newspaper on Friday. "NTC is not accredited to Harare If they say they now recognize the NTC it means they are no longer representing the interests of the Libyan Government in Zimbabwe," Bimha said. The Libyan ambassador on Wednesday led fellow Libyan residents in Zimbabwe in pulling down the Libyan flag and replacing it with the rebel's at their embassy in downtown Harare. He also witnessed the destruction of Muammar Gaddafi's portraits by pro-NTC Libyans in Zimbabwe. On the same day, Elmagrahi informed the Zimbabwean government of his defection to the NTC and defended his decision by saying he is following the will of the people. "I represent all Libyans, I follow what they want. When they are like this, I follow them. I follow what they chose," he told journalists who were at the embassy on Wednesday. Most African countries have roundly condemned the removal of Gaddafi from power with the aid of Western forces.