The information that Turkey has severed diplomatic relations with Muammar Gaddafi's regime in Libya is incorrect, Reuters said.
Retracting the news published this morning, Reuters stated that it had conveyed information that appeared in Turkey's official newspaper over the weekend that Ankara had severed diplomatic relations with the Libyan government of Muammar Gaddafi and withdrawn its ambassador from Tripoli.
The British agency states that the Turkish "Gazeta" published only that the Turkish ambassador in Tripoli was given a new appointment in Istanbul and there was no mention of the severance of diplomatic ties.
The Turkish ambassador was, in fact, withdrawn from Tripoli two months ago for security reasons.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu yesterday visited the stronghold of the rebels in the city of Benghazi in eastern Libya.
The Turkish minister promised the rebels 200 million dollars in aid for their Transitional National Council, Reuters reported.
In recognizing the council formed by the Libyan rebels in Benghazi, Turkey joined France, USA, Qatar, Malta, Great Britain, Italy, Jordan, Spain, Bulgaria, Croatia and several other countries.
The Transitional Council is facing cash shortages and damaged infrastructure in bombed-out rebel towns, prompting Turkey to give the body a $100 million loan and more for construction projects.
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