Diplomats discuss Gadhafi endgame
Source: Agencies |
March 30, 2011, Wednesday
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International leaders were yesterday struggling to figure out an endgame for Moammar Gadhafi.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Arab League, NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen and up to 40 foreign ministers attended the talks in London, seeking to ratchet up pressure on Gadhafi to quit.
In his opening speech, British Prime Minister David Cameron said the conference at Lancaster House would sketch out how the world could help Libya on a path to a post-Gadhafi rule.
"The reason for being here is because the Libyan people cannot reach that future on their own," Cameron said. "We are all here in one united purpose, that is to help the Libyan people in their hour of need."
Clinton said the international community must support calls for democracy sweeping Libya and its neighbors, but warned that change would not be easily won.
Outside the summit, about 70 protesters held pro-Gadhafi placards and led chants of "Hands off Libya!" One placard read: "We can resolve our problems without you."
The international community remains divided. Even nations that backed the internationally enforced no-fly zone to protect civilians in Libya are far from unanimous on what to do next.
Italy's Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said several nations are behind a proposal to swiftly end the conflict, setting out plans for a cease-fire, exile for Gadhafi and a framework for talks on Libya's future.
Turkey, which has offered to mediate a permanent cease-fire, said the talks should gauge international support for scenarios under which Gadhafi could go into exile.
But British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the meeting was "not going to choose Colonel Gadhafi's retirement home."
UN special envoy Abdelilah al-Khatib, a former Jordanian foreign minister, is returning to Libya to hold talks with Gadhafi's government and opposition figures. The US is also sending diplomat Chris Stevens to the rebel-held Libyan city of Benghazi to meet with rebel leaders.
Libya's deputy foreign minister Khaled Kaim told a news conference in Tripoli that foreign leaders had no right to attempt to impose a new political system on the country.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Arab League, NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen and up to 40 foreign ministers attended the talks in London, seeking to ratchet up pressure on Gadhafi to quit.
In his opening speech, British Prime Minister David Cameron said the conference at Lancaster House would sketch out how the world could help Libya on a path to a post-Gadhafi rule.
"The reason for being here is because the Libyan people cannot reach that future on their own," Cameron said. "We are all here in one united purpose, that is to help the Libyan people in their hour of need."
Clinton said the international community must support calls for democracy sweeping Libya and its neighbors, but warned that change would not be easily won.
Outside the summit, about 70 protesters held pro-Gadhafi placards and led chants of "Hands off Libya!" One placard read: "We can resolve our problems without you."
The international community remains divided. Even nations that backed the internationally enforced no-fly zone to protect civilians in Libya are far from unanimous on what to do next.
Italy's Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said several nations are behind a proposal to swiftly end the conflict, setting out plans for a cease-fire, exile for Gadhafi and a framework for talks on Libya's future.
Turkey, which has offered to mediate a permanent cease-fire, said the talks should gauge international support for scenarios under which Gadhafi could go into exile.
But British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the meeting was "not going to choose Colonel Gadhafi's retirement home."
UN special envoy Abdelilah al-Khatib, a former Jordanian foreign minister, is returning to Libya to hold talks with Gadhafi's government and opposition figures. The US is also sending diplomat Chris Stevens to the rebel-held Libyan city of Benghazi to meet with rebel leaders.
Libya's deputy foreign minister Khaled Kaim told a news conference in Tripoli that foreign leaders had no right to attempt to impose a new political system on the country.
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