Britain on Wednesday recognised the Libyan rebel National Transitional Council as the country's sole legitimate government after expelling Libya's remaining diplomats in London, the Foreign Office said.

"The UK recognises and will deal with the NTC as the sole governmental authority in Libya," a Foreign Office spokesman told AFP.

A British Foreign Office spokesman also said Wednesday that Britain is to expel all Libyan embassy staff from the country.

"We can confirm that the Libyan charge d'affaires has been called to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and is being informed that he and the remaining Libyan diplomats in the UK are being expelled," the spokesman told Reuters.

Media reports speculated that the reason behind the expulsion was to replace the diplomats from Muammar Gaddafi's rule with representatives of the council.