DUSHANBE, September 17, 2011, Asia-Plus -- The UN General Assembly voted Friday to give Libya''s seat in the world body to the National Transitional Council (NTC), which is expected to form the oil-rich North African country''s next government.

The vote means that a senior council official will be able to join world leaders and speak for Libya at next week''s ministerial session of the General Assembly, and participate in meetings.  Also Friday, the UN approved a new mission in Libya and the unfreezing of assets of two major oil companies.

The BBC reports in New York, the UN on September 16 voted by 114 to 17, with 15 abstentions, to give Libya''s seat to the transitional authorities.  The move clears the way for NTC chief Mustafa Abdul Jalil to attend the UN General Assembly next week.

Reuters reports several Latin American countries sharply criticized the decision to recognize delegates of the new Libyan government.  Venezuela''s U.N. Ambassador Jorge Valero reportedly told the General Assembly his country rejected the "illegitimate transitory authority imposed by foreign intervention" and any attempt to transform Libya into a "protectorate" of NATO or the Security Council.  According to Reuters, delegates from Cuba, Bolivia and Nicaragua echoed Valero''s remarks

An arms embargo will remain in place, but Libya''s interim government and the United Nations will be allowed to import light weapons to maintain security.

The resolution establishes a UN mission in Libya, which diplomats say will consist of up to 200 people in an initial three-month phase to help the government with a post-conflict transition, Reuters reports. Their tasks are expected to include police training and electoral assistance, UN officials say.

The resolution does not call, however, for the deployment of peacekeepers or police as part of the new UN Support Mission in Libya.  Nor does it call for an end to the no-fly zone a March resolution imposed over the country, although diplomats say Libyan civil airliners will be allowed to fly provided they notify monitors of their flight plans.

According to the BBC, US officials say President Barack Obama will meet Mr. Jalil on the sidelines of the gathering on Tuesday.

The UN also passed a resolution to ease sanctions against Libya, including on its national oil company and national bank.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said about US$19 billion in Libyan assets frozen in the UK would be gradually released as a result.

France and the US welcomed the UN developments, calling the transfer of the UN seat to the NTC a “historic” step.