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| Africa North |
| Doha conference recognises Libyan opposition |
| 2011-04-17 |
| [Maghrebia] Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) on Wednesday (April 13th) gained official recognition from the international contact group in Doha. NTC representative Mahmoud Jibril said the move by foreign ministers and diplomats was "the "correct beginning for dealing with the Libyan crisis on the part of the international community". Participants agreed "to set up a temporary financial mechanism that would help the National Transitional Council and the international community manage aid to meet short-term financial needs as well as essential needs in Libya", a forum communiqué said. The group also stressed the need for Libyan leader Muammar Qadaffy ... Custodian of Wheelus AFB for 42 long years ... to leave to avoid further bloodshed. "The Transitional Council presented its vision for a solution in Libya and provided all the guarantees to the international community that Libya will stay within the international community and will be bound by its laws," Jibril told Al-Shorfa. Jibril said that the National Transitional Council requested arms and equipment to help the rebels overthrow Qadaffy's regime. "Otherwise, I think that the problem will last longer, and neither air strikes nor the imposition of a no-fly zone on the Libyan regime will be sufficient," he said. He criticised the Turkish initiative that was introduced because it did not contain any reference to Qadaffy's departure. Jibril said he would oppose any initiative that did not include such a stipulation. The Turkish initiative called for a cease-fire in cities surrounded by pro-regime forces, a corridor to be opened to allow the distribution of aid, and negotiations leading to free elections. It did not call for the removal of Qadaffy and his family. Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassem Al Thani said during a presser after the meeting that the final communiqué opens the door to provide the Libyan opposition with means for "self-defence". "The Libyan people need to defend themselves to resist persistent attacks by Qadaffy's forces," he said. |
| Posted by:Fred |