Delegates from more than 30 countries decided to recognize the Libyan opposition as the "legitimate authority of Libya," said Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini on Friday.

Frattini spoke on the sidelines of the fourth meeting of the Contact Group on Libya in Istanbul on Friday. The Libyan opposition is represented by the Transitional National Council.

"The entire Libyan Contact Group decided to recognize the TNC as the legitimate authority of Libya," Frattini told reporters. He said the recognition will be officially announced when the final document is released later in the day.

Such a recognition would amount to a serious upgrade of the diplomatic status of the Libyan opposition in the world and put enormous pressure on Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi to step aside.

The U.S. and a growing number of countries already considered the council the legitimate interlocutor for the Libyan people but have not formally recognized it as Libya's government. The council has been seeking formal recognition from the United States and others for months.

Senior U.S. officials have said the Obama administration was preparing to strengthen ties with the council once it presents detailed plans for a democratic government as it becomes increasingly clear it will govern a post-Gadhafi Libya.

There are concerns, however, about whether the initial government would represent the full spectrum of Libyan society. Human Right Watch on Friday called on the Contact Group to press the opposition to ensure that civilians are protected in areas where rebels have assumed control.