Libyan rebel leader visiting China

China said Libya’s opposition leader will visit this week, further boosting Beijing’s engagement in Libya’s civil war and dealing another setback to dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

China’s Foreign Ministry said in a one-sentence statement posted online today that Mustafa Abdel-Jalil would be in China tomorrow and on Wednesday. No other details were immediately available.

Mr Abdel-Jalil chairs the Transitional National Council, the umbrella organisation of rebel groups trying to unseat Gaddafi.

China has recently stepped up efforts to persuade the two sides to seek a settlement.