BRUSSELS (AFP) ? A senior Libyan rebel leader on Wednesday rejected accusations by Human Rights Watch that anti-Kadhafi forces have been responsible for looting, arson and abuse of civilians.
Mahmud Jibril admitted that a "few incidents" of abuse took place in the first two weeks of the insurrection, which began in mid-February when Libyans rose up against four decades of Moamer Kadhafi's iron fisted rule.
"This is no longer the case in the liberated areas," the number two of the National Transitional Council told reporters after meeting the foreign ministers of Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands in Brussels, according to Belga news agency.
The New York-based rights group said the abuses took place in June and July -- as recently as last week -- as rebel forces pushed through the Nafusa Mountains to the south of Tripoli.
HRW said it "witnessed some of these acts, interviewed witnesses to others, and spoke with a rebel commander about the abuses".
Despite the allegations, the opposition National Transitional Council (NTC) won new endorsements as Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands -- all NATO and EU members -- recognised it as the legitimate representative of Libya's people.
Jibril met earlier with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and the 28 ambassadors of the transatlantic alliance.
Rasmussen said the NTC "have a great reponsibility for the smooth transition to a democratic and inclusive future in Libya".
He added that both sides agreed that the alliance's air war must continue as long as Kadhafi's forces threaten civilians, and that the Libyan regime "has lost all legitimacy".
They also agreed on the need for a political solution, led by Libyans with the support of the international community, fulfilling the demands of the Libyan people, the NATO chief said.
"The time to find a solution is now," Rasmussen said.
Jibril was to meet with European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso later Wednesday and EU president Herman Van Rompuy on Thursday.
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