The Arab League has suspended the Tripoli government in protest at its handling of the uprising against Qaddafi and it was not clear if the Libyans would be admitted to the meeting scheduled for Saturday at the body’s Cairo headquarters.

The officials said the delegation was headed by Umran Abu-Kra’a, who they identified as the minister of electricity.

It also included Salma Rashid, appointed by Qaddafi to replace the Libyan Arab League representative who was one of the many Libyan diplomats around the world to abandon the Tripoli government in protest at its handling of the uprising.

Gulf Arab states — all members of the Arab League — said on Thursday Qaddafi’s government was no longer legitimate.

The Gulf Cooperation Council called on the Arab League to take measures to stop the bloodshed in Libya, including the imposition of a no-fly zone to protect civilians.

At a March 2 meeting, Arab League ministers said they would consider the idea of imposing a no-fly zone.
 

In Brussels, European Union nations are putting French President Nicolas Sarkozy under pressure even before his arrival at Friday’s EU summit, complaining he was out of line to give a Libyan opposition group diplomatic recognition before any joint action could be discussed.

France recognized Libya’s Interim Governing Council, an umbrella group made up of rebels based in the eastern city of Benghazi, which was taken over in a deadly uprising that has spread throughout much of the oil-rich North African country.

Other EU member states insist nations should get diplomatic recognition, not groups or governments. They are urging caution during the volatile days of continued fighting.