The General Assembly of the United Nations voted to transfer Libya's place in the world organization to the National Transitional Council formed by former rebels.
114 UN members voted for the resolution, and 17 against, while 15 countries abstained, which also maintains divisions in Africa and Latin America over who should represent Libya.
After this vote, representatives of the National Transitional Council will be able to speak on behalf of Libya at ministerial meetings within the General Assembly next week.
A group of Latin American countries with left-leaning governments opposed giving a UN seat to the forces that ousted Muammar Gaddafi's regime. Venezuela accused NATO forces of "criminal airstrikes... aimed at installing a puppet government".
The regional South African bloc opposed immediate credentials to the National Transitional Council, but failed to win support for postponing the vote.
The Administrative Committee of the UN General Assembly unanimously recommended that former rebels be given a seat in the UN.
Rebel forces are retreating from Bani Walid
Forces of the Libyan Transitional Council are withdrawing fighters from Bani Walid, one of Muammar Gaddafi's key strongholds, after strong resistance from his supporters.
The withdrawal of the rebel forces shows the strength and determination of Gaddafi's supporters to resist the offensive launched in the city about 140 kilometers southeast of Tripoli.
Forces supporting the National Transitional Council are now trying to regroup on the outskirts of the city after facing snipers, mortar attacks and rocket fire in an attempt to capture the center of Bani Walid.
The fighting around Bani Walid is taking place while at the same time rebel forces are trying to capture Sirte, Gaddafi's hometown, on the Mediterranean coast.
Fighters of the new Libyan government seized the airport in Sirte >>>
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