Libya rebels dismiss AU peace plan

Almaty. April 12. Kazakhstan Today - Libyan rebels on Monday rejected African Union peace plan calling for ceasefire between the rebels and forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, because it did not include the ouster of the ruling family, Kazakhstan Today reports.

Britain will continue with military attacks on Libya after rebels rejected a deal that would have kept Colonel Gaddafi in power, the Daily Mail reported.

Downing Street and the Libyan opposition leadership in Benghazi dismissed an attempt by the African Union to bring about a ceasefire.

Opposition leaders last night threatened the Gaddafi family, warning them to flee the country or risk execution.

And senior British Government officials made clear that air strikes will continue until the dictator withdraws his troops from rebel towns and decides to quit.

The Gaddafi clan had agreed a 'road map' to a ceasefire with African leaders, including South African president Jacob Zuma.

But the rebels' Interim National Council, with which the British Government has opened diplomatic relations, sent the African Union packing yesterday when it became clear that the deal would keep Gaddafi in power.

A communique from the rebels said: 'The proposal did not include Gaddafi and his family standing down.

'Any reforms which were included would be within the Gaddafi regime and that is also unacceptable.'

In London, No 10 and Foreign Secretary William Hague both made clear that the deal was not good enough.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'We will continue to take military action as required to protect civilians.

'Whether or not there is a ceasefire is something that's in Gaddafi's hands. We have to judge him by what he does rather than what he says.'

Mr Hague warned that any deal would be seen as a 'betrayal' if it fell short of the requirements of the United Nations Security Council.

He will co-chair further talks tomorrow in Qatar at the first meeting of a 'contact group' on Libya.

Privately, senior officials expressed dismay at the African Union effort, expressing concern that President Zuma chose to address Gaddafi as a 'brother leader' - before refusing to meet the opposition leaders.

From the very start the peace efforts of the Africans were tainted by accusations of conflicts of interest. Several of the countries have close financial or political ties to the Libyan dictator.

Their regimes also have dubious democratic credentials. In short, they did not seem the most honest of brokers.

There are also tensions within the African Union about Gaddafi's prominent role in the widely discredited organisation.

Some sub-Saharan countries resent the way that the so-called 'King of Kings' has used oil money to hijack the AU after he fell out with his fellow leaders in the Arab world.

This has caused deep resentment among ordinary Libyans who point at the shambolic infrastructure in their own oil-rich country.

The five-strong AU delegation comprised of presidents Jacob Zuma of South Africa, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania, Amadou Toumani Toure of Mali and Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo-Brazzaville, and Uganda's Foreign Minister Henry Oryem Okello.

The main points of the 'road map' were an immediate ceasefire, the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, the protection of foreign nationals, a dialogue between the two sides on a political settlement and a suspension of NATO airstrikes.

What they did not call for was what this revolution is all about: the end of Gaddafi's 42-year tyranny.

Photo: Daily Mail

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