WINDHOEK â€" The Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) yesterday said it recognises the National Transitional Council (NTC) of Libya as the de facto governing regime of that country.

Essentially, the official opposition is celebrating the downfall of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, the dethroned Libyan leader whose whereabouts at this stage are a mystery.

The RDP's recogition of the NTC comes hot on the heels of the Namibian government's refusal last weekend to vote in favour of allowing the NTC to represent Libya at the ongoing General Assembly of the United Nations in New York, USA.

Namibia says she would not recognise the NTC until democratic elections are held in the oil-rich Arab country.

But the RDP has urged government to loosen its belt on the issue, saying there is much at stake in the Namibia-Libya relations.

"We fly over Libya when going to Europe. What if the NTC ban us from using their airspace?" said 'Kandy' Nehova, RDP's Secretary for International Relations.

While the RDP recognises the role Libya played in the liberation struggle of Namibia during Gaddafi's rule, the party is adamant that Libyans should be architects of their own destiny.

Libya, the RDP said, had no democratic institutions such as parliament or cabinet and all decisions were left in the unilateral hands of Gaddafi and his dynasty.

The official opposition was at pains to zoom in on the international debate of whether Nato had exceeded its mandate in Libya, amidst accusations that the military organisation had violated UN resolutions 1970 and 1973.