Libyan Embassy in the Philippines flies rebel flag

Diplomats in the Libyan embassy in the Philippines have disowned the beleaguered government of Muammar Gaddafi and shifted their allegiance to the rebels, a Philippine foreign department spokesman said Wednesday. Raul Hernandez, spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs, said the diplomats informed the Philippines Tuesday that the embassy in Manila no longer represented the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya of Gaddafi, but the rebel-led Transitional National Council. On Wednesday, the embassy in the financial district of Makati flew the flag of the rebel council. Students inside the embassy burned the old Libyan flag, crushed the picture frame of the ageing leader and chanted, “Freedom, freedom, Gaddafi out.” Hernandez said the diplomats may be expelled if the Libyan Foreign Ministry asks Manila not to recognize them. He said the Philippines has not severed its ties with Gaddafi, in order to protect the welfare of more 1,600 Filipino workers in the strife-torn country. “As long as their (Libyan diplomats in Manila) accreditation is not withdrawn, we will continue to recognize them,” Hernandez said.