Libyan rebels say ready for conditional ceasefire

Libyan rebels say ready for conditional ceasefire

A rebel fighter holds a RPG launcher in Benghazi. Libya’s opposition has said they are ready for a ceasefire provided Muammar Gaddafi’s forces end their assaults on rebel-held cities. — PHOTO: REUTERS

BENGHAZI – LIBYA’S opposition is ready for a ceasefire provided Muammar Gaddafi’s forces end their assaults on rebel-held cities, Transitional National Council leader Mustafa Abdul Jalil said on Friday.

‘We agree on a ceasefire on the condition that our brothers in the western cities have freedom of expression and also that the forces that are besieging the cities withdraw,’ Mr Jalil told reporters after meeting Abdul Ilah Khatib, the UN special envoy to Libya.

Mr Khatib said the subject of a possible ceasefire between rebel fighters and forces loyal to embattled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi had been broached during the discussions with the rebels leaders.

‘Our main goal is to achieve a last ceasefire that will hold,’ he said live on Al-Jazeera satellite channel.

Western powers are increasingly looking for a political rather than a military end to conflict in Libya, which erupted when pro-democracy protests were first launched in Benghazi, about 1000km east of Tripoli, on Feb 15.

Germany Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in Beijing on Friday the situation in Libya could not be solved through ‘military means’ and called for a ceasefire. — AFP


Comment on Global Research Articles on our Facebook page

Become a Member of Global Research


Articles by: Global Research

Disclaimer: The contents of this article are of sole responsibility of the author(s). The Centre for Research on Globalization will not be responsible for any inaccurate or incorrect statement in this article. The Centre of Research on Globalization grants permission to cross-post Global Research articles on community internet sites as long the source and copyright are acknowledged together with a hyperlink to the original Global Research article. For publication of Global Research articles in print or other forms including commercial internet sites, contact: [email protected]

www.globalresearch.ca contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available to our readers under the provisions of "fair use" in an effort to advance a better understanding of political, economic and social issues. The material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving it for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material for purposes other than "fair use" you must request permission from the copyright owner.

For media inquiries: [email protected]