British Prime Minister David Cameron says the rebel advance into the Libyan capital, Tripoli, has helped the Arab Spring revolutions in the Middle East establish the beginnings of democracy in the region.

Mr. Cameron said Monday that Britain believes it helped prevent a massacre of innocent people in the area, and that Britain is “proud” to play its part in the Libyan revolution. He said London soon will be able to unfreeze foreign Libyan assets for use by the Libyan people.

France says the head of Libya's opposition group will travel to Paris in the next few days. France was the first country to recognize the rebel opposition's Transitional National Council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people.

U.S. President Barack Obama called on Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi to “relinquish power once and for all.” He said the momentum against Mr. Gadhafi has reached a tipping point.

In a statement late Sunday after Libyan rebels pushed into Tripoli, Mr. Obama said Mr. Gadhafi needs to acknowledge that he no longer controls the country.

Mr. Obama also said the United States will continue to work with the international community to support a peaceful transition to democracy in Libya, and he urged the opposition TNC to include the interests of all the Libyan people.

The European Union, Britain and Italy all have said Mr. Gadhafi's rule is coming to an end, and they urged the Libyan leader to step down in order to avoid more bloodshed. China said Monday it “respects the choice of the Libyan people” and hopes stability returns to the country quickly.

South Africa said it is not supporting the rebels, and it refuted reports that it had sent a plane to Libya to evacuate Mr. Gadhafi. Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said Mr. Gadhafi has not and will not ask for asylum in South Africa.

The International Criminal Court at The Hague confirmed that the rebels have detained Mr. Gadhafi's son Seif al-Islam. The world court was quick to remind the rebels that they have “an obligation to surrender Seif to the ICC.”

The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Gadhafi, his son and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi, all charged with crimes against humanity.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday was one of the rare voices to criticize the events in Libya. He condemned NATO's airstrikes in the country.

Mr. Chavez has long been a staunch defender Mr. Gadhafi and has denounced the popular uprising, claiming it is an oil grab by Western powers.