France reopens embassy in Tripoli

"Our embassy in Tripoli reopened today," Bernard Valero said, adding France's envoy in the eastern city Benghazi, Antoine Sivan, would head to the capital as soon as the "highest authorities" of the rebels arrived there.

A diplomatic team led by Sivan's deputy, Pierre Seillan, arrived in Tripoli on Monday to set up in France's embassy building there, Valero told reporters.

The embassy's property was looted and burned during the unrest. The first floor was ransacked, the second and third floors were destroyed by fire, and windows were pockmarked by bullets, an AFP journalist at the scene saw.

Local residents said the building was attacked by Qadhafi loyalists.

"It happened after our departure," Seillan told AFP. "We don't know when. But apparently it was several incidents."

Seillan said he is looking for a suitable space so that the embassy can resume its activities.

The rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) is in the process of moving its fledgling government to the capital from its previous base in Benghazi.

France was the first power to recognise the NTC as Libya's government and President Nicolas Sarkozy has mobilised international military and diplomatic support for the revolution against the 42-year-old regime.

Paris closed its embassy in Tripoli on February 26 and evacuated its staff amid fears that they would not be safe in a city then under the control of pro-Qadhafi forces.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011