A soldier stands near a portrait of Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi during a pro-government rally in the Gaddafi hometown of Sirte (Photo: Reuters)
A UN peace envoy has suggested a ceasefire in Libya to be followed by the immediate creation of a transitional authority with as many government as rebel representatives but excluding Muammar Gaddafi and his sons. That authority, the European diplomat who withheld his name and location elaborated, would appoint a president, manage the police and armed forces, and maintain security. It would also supervise a round-table reconciliation process leading to an elected national assembly, which would then draft a constitution. The diplomat added that he was outlining ideas canvassed by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon's special envoy to Libya, Abdul Elah al-Khatib.
Khatib, a Jordanian MP, has been seeking a political solution to the conflict between Gaddafi's forces and rebels based in the east, which erupted in February. He has visited both sides several times.Gaddafi has been holding onto power in the face of rebel attacks aimed at ending his 41-year rule and has refused to step down, as the insurgents demanded. On Thursdaythe Libyan leader rejected the suggestion of talks with the rebels, undermining diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
The peace envoy said that under the transition proposed by Khatib, Gaddafi would have to step down, but instead of being a precondition that would be part of the process.Once the transitional authority is created and Gaddafi no longer has control of the security forces, rebels in Tripoli will have no reason to fear him and his rule will have ended in effect. But Gaddafi will only accept such a transition if his personal safety is guaranteed; he would therefore not be handed over immediately to the Hague, which has issued a warrant for his arrest for crimes against humanity.Gaddafi and his sons would be excluded from the transitional authority, the diplomat said, since the rebels could never accept their presence.
For his part Khatib could not be reached for comment. On 11 July he announced to reporters at the United Nations that he had told the Libyan antagonists that a transitional body representing all political parties, regions and tribes was needed to manage a transition.The United Nations said Khatib had presented those ideas to Libya's prime minister and foreign minister.
On Wednesday France announced that Gaddafi could stay in Libya if he gave up power, an apparent softening of the West's position in a new effort to find a diplomatic end to the war.The United States says Gaddafi must step down, but whether he remains in Libya after that will be up to the Libyan people.Libyan officials have said Gaddafi's departure is out of the question, while on Thursday the rebels said that no one seriously expects talks to end the crisis.
Short link: