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The Libyan national flag was burnt while Gaddafi’s official portraits were pulled down and destroyed.
Scores of Libyans resident in Zimbabwe, waved the rebel flag and chanted slogans: “To hell with Gaddafi, Gaddafi must die, Libya is Free, Gaddafi has expired.”
Embassy officials and children as young as two-years-old joined the frenzy, which attracted interest from the public who then gathered at the embassy.
They waved the V sign for victory, blew vehicle horns and their faces were painted in colours of the rebel flag.
Police kept a close eye on developments outside the embassy.
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Reads part of the letter Ambassador Elmagrahi wrote to Government: “The Bureau (embassy) would like to inform you that the new Libyan flag will be hoisted from today.”
Ambassador Elmagrahi confirmed that he had officially informed the Government of Zimbabwe about the latest development.
He said Government had not yet responded to his letter.
Mr Elmagrahi said the development would not affect relations between Tripoli and Harare, pledging to further relations between Libya and Zimbabwe.
“We have a transition. We will follow our friendship with them (Zimbabwe). We will respect all our agreements with them,” Mr Elmagrahi said.
When asked by The Herald why he had chosen such a path, he said: “I represent all Libyans. I follow what they want. When they are like this, I follow them. I follow what they chose.”
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ambassador Joey Bimha yesterday said Zimbabwe did not recognise the NTC.
“If they have defected, then they do not have any business to do here. We do not recognise that Government (NTC),” he said.
The Dean of African Diplomats and DRC Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mwanananga Mwanapanga, yesterday said when a diplomat was faced with a situation like the one in Libya, he/she was bound to “represent the people.”
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Two centres of authority have emerged in Libya, the Gaddafi Government and the NTC.
“He was accredited to Zimbabwe to represent the people not individuals. He represents the people of Libya. If he finds that the people of Libya have changed, he represents them,” Ambassador Mwanapanga said.
In Addis Ababa, the African Union panel on Libya, made up of the heads of state of Mauritania, Congo-Brazzaville, Mali, South Africa and Uganda meets today to prepare an AU meeting to discuss the Libyan crisis.
The United States called an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council yesterday to press for an easing of Libya sanctions so that it can send US$1,5 billion for rebel assistance.
The 15-member council will meet to discuss a proposed US resolution on Libya amid growing US frustration over the blocking of special aid.
The US administration responded to questions from other nations but South Africa has continued to block the move on the committee, the diplomat added.
Diplomats said South Africa wanted to wait until after an African Union summit today and tomorrow before taking decisions on measures to help Libya.
Meanwhile, a day after rebels stormed Gaddafi’s Bab al-Aziziya complex in Tripoli, heavy fighting raged near the compound.
The rebels have offered a US$1,7 million reward for the capture of Gaddafi, dead or alive.
According to an AFP report, Libya’s ambassador to Gabon left the country following a formal request by the Gabonese government, a foreign ministry spokesman said.
Gabon, which was one of three African countries that voted for UN resolution 1973 formally recognised the NTC, foreign ministry spokesman Jean Claude Franck Mendome said.
Chad also recognised the NTC.
As the leadership of the NTC met leaders of Western governments yesterday to map the way forward, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev urged Gaddafi and the rebels to stop fighting and sit down for talks.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy met the number two in NTC yesterday.
Medvedev said, “Despite the rebel successes in the offensive on Tripoli, Gaddafi and his supporters still maintain some influence and military potential.”
Medvedev described Moscow’s position on Libya as “cautious” and said Russia was closely watching the situation.
He said Russia would recognise the Libyan rebels if they “unite the country”.
The United States requested yesterday an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss a move to freeze US$1,5 billion in aid for the rebels.
Western leaders who backed the revolt with NATO air power remained wary of declaring outright victory while the 69-year-old Gaddafi is at large.
He issued a defiant audio message overnight to remaining bastions of his supporters, some of whom may be tempted to mount an Iraq-style insurgency. — Herald Reporter-AFP-Reuters.
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