Cairo: Qatar recognised the rebel Libyan National Council as the sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people on Monday, the Qatari state news agency reported.

"This recognition comes from a conviction that the council has become, practically, a representative of Libya and its brotherly people," the agency reported, quoting a Foreign Ministry official.

Explaining the decision, the official said the rebel council included representatives of different Libyan regions and had acceptance among the Libyan people.