Libya’s main opposition group, the Libyan Transitional National Council, made significant gains in the last week against pro-Gadhafi forces when they retook the Western port city of Misrata. However, the group faced a political setback on Friday after meeting with members of President Obama’s administration in Washington, D.C., and failing to be fully recognized by the United States as Libya’s official and legitimate ruling council. The president of the Libyan Transitional National Council, Mahmoud Jibril, said financial constraints could threaten their progress as well. Jibril is asking governments in Europe and in the U.S. to unfreeze assets for use in Libya’s opposition movement. We talk with Dr. Ali Tarhouni, who recently left his position as a professor of economics at the University of Washington to join the LTNC as their Finance Minister. Dr. Tarhouni has been fighting against Gadhafi policies since he was a member of a pro-democracy student union in Libya in the 70’s. His name was subsequently put on a hit list and he fled the country for the U.S.
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