WASHINGTON (AP) — Libya's ambassador to the U.S. is claiming that opponents of Moammar Gadhafi's regime are rallying behind efforts to form an alternative government led by a former Libyan minister. He says the international community should back the movement.
The claim by Ambassador Ali Aujali couldn't be immediately verified and it was unclear what support the effort by ex-Justice Minister Mustafa Abdel-Jalil commanded.
But Aujali told The Associated Press the U.S. and other countries could accelerate Gadhafi's exit by supporting Abdel-Jalil.
Abdel-Jalil has criticized Gadhafi's regime for its brutal crackdown on protesters and recently said he had proof the Libyan leader ordered the 1988 Lockerbie bombing that killed 270 people.
The State Department said it had no knowledge of Abdel-Jalil's effort.
Aujali said he didn't know the other leaders in the movement.
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