France has ordered 14 people who served as Libyan diplomats under Muammar Gaddafi's regime to leave the country within two days.
'France has declared persona non grata 14 Libyan ex-diplomats posted in France,' the French foreign ministry said in a statement, indicating that it no longer recognises their diplomatic status.
'Depending on their case, those concerned have a deadline of 24 to 48 hours to leave French national territory.'
The ministry accused them of 'activities incompatible with the relevant UN resolutions ... and contrary to the protection of Libyan civilians,' citing the UN mandate under which international forces are bombing Gaddafi's strategic sites.
France was the first foreign power to formally recognise the Transitional National Council, the political leadership of the rebels who are battling Gaddafi's forces.
Days after the start of the rebellion in February, the ambassadors to France and UNESCO in Paris both declared allegiance to the rebels, complaining of repression by Gaddafi’s forces against civilians.
Meanwhile, Russia has reiterated its opposition to any foreign ground operation in Libya.
It also criticised a Western-led grouping that has pledged aid to the rebels fighting Muammar Gaddafi's government forces.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the UN Security Council resolution that authorised military intervention in Libya 'directly and unequivocally rules out' ground operations.
'The position of the Russian Federation remains absolutely unchanged,' he said.
Russia, which is a permanent Security Council member, has accused the Western coalition enforcing no-fly zones in Libya of overstepping its mandate. It has warned against arming rebels.
Mr Lavrov criticised a contact group that agreed to set up a non-military fund to help the rebels, warning its members - which include the US, France and Britain - not to try to eclipse the UN Security Council.
He said: 'We proceed from the position that the informal contact group comprises responsible states and that all of them ratified the UN Charter and are required to respect the authority of the Security Council.
'The efforts of all ... should be focused on a peaceful resolution, and not on the support of one of the sides in what is essentially an internal armed conflict - that is, a civil war.'
