Colonel Muammar Qadaffy... dictator of Libya since 1969. From 1972, when he relinquished the title of prime minister, he has been accorded the honorifics
Guide of the First of September Great Revolution of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriyaor
Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution. With the death of Omar Bongo of Gabon on 8 June 2009, he became the longest serving of all current non-royal national leaders. He is also the longest-serving ruler of Libya since Tripoli became an Ottoman province in 1551. When Chairman Mao was all the rage and millions of people were flashing his Little Red Book, Qadaffy came out with his own Little Green Book, which didn't do as well. Qadaffy's instability has been an inspiration to the Arab world and to Africa, which he would like to rule...
yesterday sent a negotiator on his behalf to visit the Council. [Via the negotiator], the Libyan leader declared his readiness to abandon power and leave Libya, in return for ensuring the safety of himself and his family.
The sources explained that Qadaffy's terms were as follows: The General People's Congress [Qadaffy's parliament] would convene to declare that Qadaffy had stepped down, and handed power over to the National Council. In return, Qadaffy sought assurances for his safety, that of his family, and his wealth.
In a telephone interview with Asharq al-Awsat, the sources revealed that Qadaffy demanded assistance in leaving the country, which he intends to do, and requested guarantees that he would not be pursued, either internally or abroad, or brought to face international courts.
Sources did not disclose the content of the Council's response, saying only that: "there has yet to be an official response to Qadaffy's demands, whether negative or positive". However,
The infamous
However...
the sources said that the general popular trend at present is to reject all negotiation and dialogue with Qadaffy, under any circumstances.
The sources also revealed that Colonel Qadaffy had yesterday distributed a quantity of weapons and ammunition amongst the "Abna al-Rafaq", a group of young loyalists in Tripoli who are affiliated with leaders of the Revolutionary Committees, in a move which the sources termed part of the "Qadaffy Maneuvers". By doing so, Qadaffy is seeking to deliberately confuse matters, and spread chaos, in order to blur the picture of what is happening in Libya in front of the foreign media and observers.
The sources said that these youths are taking to the streets of Tripoli and firing bullets in order to spread terror and confusion amongst the citizens, and amidst the ranks of journalists and foreign correspondents, who were initially invited to the Libyan capital by the Qadaffy regime.