France had sent military liaison officers to Libya to assist the rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) in Benghazi, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

France had sent a "small number" of liaison officers along with its special envoy to Benghazi, the rebel stronghold in the east of Libya, AFP quoted spokesman Christine Fage as saying.

Also on Wednesday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy met NTC chief Mustafa Abdul Jalil at the Elysee Palace on the situation in Libya and the process of democratic transition.

France was the first country to recognize the rebel's administrative body as the legitimate representative of Libya and Libyan people. Currently, only France, Qatar and Italy have recognized the NTC.