Lalit K Jha

Washington, Apr 23 (PTI) US Senator John McCain has sought international recognition for the government run by the Libyan Opposition, saying "these brave fighters" needed "every appropriate" means of assistance to increase pressure on Muammar Gaddafi and his loyalists.

"I would encourage every nation, especially the United States, to recognise the Transitional National Council as the legitimate voice of the Libyan people. They've earned this right, and Gaddhafi has forfeited it by waging war on his own people," McCain said at a news conference in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi in eastern Libya.

The visiting US Senator said the governments that have frozen assets of the Gaddafi regime should release some of that money to the Council so that they can sustain, improve, and expand their capacity to govern justly.

"We need to urgently step up the NATO air campaign to protect Libyan civilians, especially in Misrata.