White House: still assessing Libyan rebel council

WASHINGTON - The White House on Thursday said the United States was in touch with the Libyan National Council but was still reviewing the goals of the rebel body fighting to end the reign of Muammar Gaddafi.France on Thursday became the first country to recognize the council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people, and Britain called its members "valid interlocutors."Asked if the United States would also recognize the council, White House spokesman Jay Carney said the United States had reached out to Libyan opposition groups including the council but was still trying to figure out what they stood for."We are still engaged in the process of assessing those groups, the council and other individuals, to find out what their vision is, who they represent, what their ideas are and where they would take Libya in a post-Gaddafi future. But we are very engaged in that process," he said.