Gaddafi accepts AU mediators' ceasefire plan
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Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi agreed to accept an African Union's "road map" that could lead to a cease-fire with rebels in the country, South African President Jacob Zuma said in Tripoli on Sunday, the Associated Press and Reuters reported.
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(L to R) President of Mali Amadou Toumani Toure, President of South Africa Jacob Zuma, President of Congo Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, President of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Chairman of the African Union Commission Jean Ping, and Ramadan-Amiri, head of the Peace and Security of the African Union, have a group photo taken in Tripoli, capital of Libya, April 10, 2011. An African delegation is in Libya to try to negotiate a truce between Gaddafi's forces and rebels seeking to oust him. [Hamza Turkia/Xinhua] |
The peace plan called for an immediate cease-fire and a political dialogue between rebels and the government.
Noureddine Mezni, a spokesperson for the African Union, said in an interview with the BBC late on Sunday that Zuma presented Qaddafi with a four-point program including a cease-fire, humanitarian aid, protection for foreign nationals and political reforms.
According to a Reuters report from Tripoli, Zuma said "the brother leader's delegation has accepted the roadmap as presented by us. We have to give cease-fire a chance." He referred to Qaddafi's side in the talks.
Zuma and leaders of several other African countries visited Libya over the weekend to meet Gaddafi on behalf of the African Union to mediate an immediate cease-fire between Libya's government troops and the rebel forces. The delegation is also expected to meet with rebel leaders in the eastern city of Benghazi.
