EU prepares to move Libya HQ to Tripoli from Benghazi

Europe’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Tuesday chaired a crisis meeting in Brussels to coordinate the European response to the crisis in Libya. The European Union wants to make sure they are “ready to respond in the way the Libyan people want and with the UN leadership”, but also recognizing “the particular contributions of the EU”, Ashton said. So far, the EU has assisted Libya during the civil war with 300 million euro in humanitarian aid. In May, Ashton travelled to Libya to open a diplomatic office in Bengazhi and to formally recognize the rebel’s national Transitional council. Ashton said she had been informed that Libyan rebels now hold 80 percent of the capital Tripoli. The EU High representative reiterated its call on Gaddafi to “recognize the will of his people and stand aside”.