Libya's new leaders welcomed at UN meet

Combined news services

UNITED NATIONS -- Libya's new flag flew at the United Nations yesterday for the first time since Moammar Gadhafi's overthrow, as President Barack Obama called for the last of the deposed leader's loyalists to stop fighting.

The Palestinian foreign minister said, meanwhile, that he was confident the Security Council would vote later this week to recognize Palestinian statehood, and he urged the United States to reconsider its veto threat.

The White House, which has promised to block the move, announced last night that Obama would meet with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas today to ask the leader not to push for a vote in the Council. Obama will also meet Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

International leaders at a high-level UN conference on Libya congratulated Libyans -- and themselves -- for Gadhafi's removal by NATO-backed rebels in a 7-month-old conflict. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the Security Council had acted to protect the Libyan people from violence.

Libya's new rulers are still trying to dislodge Gadhafi loyalists from several towns and have yet to start a countdown toward writing a new constitution and holding elections.

But Obama said it was clear that Libya was now in the hands of the people. "Just as the world stood by you in your struggle to be free, we will now stand with you in your struggle to realize the peace and prosperity that freedom can bring," he said.

On the Palestinian issue, diplomats still hope to avert the crisis looming over this year's meeting of the General Assembly, but Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said he thought at least nine of the 15 members of the Security Council would endorse the Palestinian move.

A veto by the United States, one of the five permanent members of the council and a firm ally of Israel, would still block approval, even if most other members agree.

U.S. officials conceded they can't stop Abbas from launching his case for statehood. Obama is expected Wednesday to ask Abbas to essentially drop the bid after the Palestinian leader delivers his letter of intent to the UN, expected Friday.

"The president will be able to say very directly why we believe that action at the United Nations is not the way to achieve a Palestinian state," said Ben Rhodes, the White House deputy national security adviser.

Israel pressed the Palestinians to abandon their bid for recognition, calling for a resumption of peace talks and threatening to cut off a major source of their revenue following any vote for statehood.

Israel Minister of Finance Yuval Steinitz said a declaration of statehood might lead to a new suspension of his government's transfer to the Palestinian Authority of $100 million a month in custom fees it collects.