(NEWZIMBABWE, BBC) Gaddafi accepts peace plan: Zuma

Gaddafi accepts peace plan: Zuma
by BBC
11/04/2011 00:00:00

SOUTH African President Jacob Zuma says the Libyan government has accepted an African Union (AU) peace plan to end the eight-week-old conflict in the North African country.

Zuma and three other African leaders met Libya's leader, Col Muammar Gaddafi, in Tripoli on Sunday after which they were expected to travel to the eastern rebel stronghold of Benghazi.

The AU’s road map calls for an immediate cease-fire, opening channels for humanitarian aid and talks between the rebels and the government.

"The brother leader (Col Gaddafi) delegation has accepted the roadmap as presented by us," Zuma declared.

"We have to give the ceasefire a chance," he said, after several hours of talks.

The details of the plan would be set out later in a statement, Zuma said.

The British-based representative of the Libyan opposition leadership, Guma al-Gamaty, has told the BBC that they would look carefully at the AU plan, but that any deal designed to keep Colonel Gaddafi or his sons in place would not be acceptable.

The AU mission comprises representatives from five nations: presidents Jacob Zuma, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania, Amadou Toumani Toure of Mali and Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo, and Uganda's Foreign Minister Henry Oryem Okello.

The mission has called for an "immediate end" to fighting, "diligent conveying of humanitarian aid" and "dialogue between the Libyan parties".

Earlier, a statement from the South African presidency said: "The (African Union) committee has been granted permission by Nato to enter Libya and to meet in Tripoli with... (Col) Gaddafi. The AU delegation will also meet with the Interim Transitional National Council in Benghazi on 10 and 11 April."

The five-strong panel was approved by the European Union to mediate in Libya.

Panel spokesman President Abdel Aziz said: "The main objective of the panel is to put an end to the war and to find an adequate solution to the crisis."

However, the mission faces a difficult task as the rebels have refused to discuss a ceasefire without the removal of Col Gaddafi and his family.