Libya Rebels Recognized By U.S.

Libyan rebels fighting to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi have won recognition as the country’s “legitimate authority” from the entire international contact group co-ordinating policy on the crisis.

Franco Frattini, Italy’s foreign minister, announced the largely symbolic move at an Istanbul meeting of the group – one of a swath of political and economic measures designed to ratchet up pressure on Gaddafi.

Britain also announced it was deploying four more fighter aircraft to take part in Nato’s bombing campaign.