Libya's ambassador to Zimbabwe is to leave the country Wednesday, following his expulsion for denouncing Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi and siding with the rebels, state radio reported.
A week ago, ambassador Taher Elmegrahi hoisted the rebel flag at the embassy building in Harare, after a jubilant crowd of demonstrators tore down the Libyan flag as rebels stormed Gaddafi's compound in Tripoli, DPA reported.
On Tuesday, Zimbabwe's Foreign Ministry handed Elmegrahi a note verbale, saying his actions were "not acceptable" and gave him 72 hours to leave the country.
Zimbabwe does not recognize the Libya's rebel Transitional National Council. The rebel flag on the embassy has since been replaced by that of the African Union, which does not recognize the rebel authority.
Megrahi was quoted on state radio Wednesday as saying he was arranging to leave the same day with all his staff. "I respect the decisions of this government and the people," he said.
"It's our interior business. It's in Libya, not here," he aded however.
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, a long-time ally of Mugabe, has condemned the NATO intervention in Libya, saying the West wants to seize Libyan oil.
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