Libya: Rebels Insist On Gaddafi Departure
The Libyan city of Misrata came under massive bombing Tuesday by forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi. This came as it seems the talks conducted by the African Union delegation in Benghazi reached a deadlock.
The rebels leaders dismissed the the proposal after less than 24 hours from the statement made by the President of South Africa Jacob Zuma, who heads the African Union mission that Gaddafi had agreed to the plan.
The proposal includes a ceasefire.
The rebels and the Western leaders rejected any agreement that does not include the departure of Gaddafi.
Mustafa Abdul Jalil, Chairman of the Transitional National Assembly, said at a press conference after the talks that took place in Benghazi that the initiative of the African Union “does not include the departure of Gaddafi, his regime and his sons.”
He added that the initiative was “obsolete.”
On his part, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of the Libyan leader, stated that the demand that his father would step down was “ridiculous.”
In an interview to a French channel, the son said: “We want to promote the elite of new young men to govern the country and manage local affairs. We want new blood and this is what we want for the future of Libya. But the talk of departure (Gaddafi) .. this is something silly really.”
He added, “If the West wants democracy and a new constitution and elections, we agree. We agree with this, but the West should help us to provide the appropriate atmosphere.”
