LIBYA’S REVOLUTIONARY leadership has flatly rejected an African Union peace initiative because it does not require Muammar Gadafy to relinquish power immediately.
The rebels’ interim ruling council met an AU delegation from five countries – led by three presidents and two foreign ministers – the day after Col Gadafy endorsed the African Union’s “roadmap to peace”, which included an immediate ceasefire, the suspension of Nato air strikes and talks towards a political settlement.
However, Mustafa Abdul Jalil, the revolutionary council chairman, said yesterday the rebels had told the AU its proposal had been overtaken by events, including the UN Security Council resolution authorising air strikes, and was in any case unacceptable because it left Col Gadafy in power while both sides negotiated.
“From the very beginning, we have been asking that the exit of Gadafy and his sons take place immediately,” Mr Jalil said. “We cannot consider this or any future proposal that does not include this peoples’ requirement. He leaves on his own or the march of the people will be at his doorstep.”
That view was strongly backed by thousands of demonstrators outside the Benghazi hotel where the talks were held. They waved revolutionary flags and carried signs saying: “No solution with Gadafy staying.”
Mr Jalil said the peace proposal was drafted a month ago and had been overtaken by the Security Council resolution requiring Col Gadafy to halt attacks on civilians.
“Col Gadafy did not recognise this resolution and continued bombing civilians from the air and shooting them and surrounding cities with his forces and put his forces inside cities,” he said. “There is not any way the Libyan people can accept such a situation.”
Although the AU proposal included a ceasefire, the rebels said it did not go far enough. They want one that requires Col Gadafy to withdraw his forces from towns where they have been used to suppress the revolution, particularly Misurata and Zawiya, and the allowing of unfettered public protest in the hope that Libyans in cities still under Col Gadafy’s control will seize the opportunity to rise up.
Mr Jalil also rejected the AU’s proposal for a cessation of Nato air strikes. “If it were not for the air strikes carried out by the coalition forces and Nato, we would not now be at this meeting.”
The AU’s proposal for an end to the air strikes also drew scepticism from Nato. Its secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said that for a ceasefire to work, it would need to be “credible and verifiable”, suggesting that international monitors would need to be deployed on the ground in Libya, but that it was “too early” for this.
“We need to establish an effective monitoring mechanism if a ceasefire is to be credible,” he said.
The AU delegation – made up of South Africa, Uganda, Mauritania, Congo-Brazzaville and Mali – left the talks looking glum, without making a public comment and to the derisive shouts of the protesters outside. – ( Guardianservice)