Zuma meets Gaddafi, says Libyan leader ready for ceasefire

Tripoli, May 31: After months of violence, Libya has finally got another chance to get back peace after Jacob Zuma, the South Africa President declared that embattled Libyan Premier Muammar Gaddafi is ready for a truce. But then he spelled out a dampener by listing the familiar Gaddafi conditions that have scuttled previous cease-fire efforts.

After a meeting with Gaddafi, that was aimed at brokering an exit strategy for Gaddafi, Zuma said in the news conference, which was broadcasted on Libyan state television, "Brother leader took the position today that he is ready to implement the decision of the AU (that) there must be a cease-fire. The view is that that must include -- bombing by NATO must also come to an end."

He added, "but also, he makes the point that: Let the Libyan people be given a chance to talk among themselves. And therefore, he's ready to implement the road map of the AU."

Sources said that the Libyan Prime Minister Al Baghdadi Ali al Mahmudi also attended the meeting. He greeted Zuma upon his arrival at the airport, where few of Gadhafi supporters welcomed the south African President by carrying posters, some of which said, "May the leader be victorious" and "Thanks for great Africa."

Meanwhile, the Libyan Army showed no signs of any reconciliation as they continued to attack the rebels and so did the NATO raids who targetted the Libyan army bunkers and arms depots.

Significantly, Zuma unlike other World leaders has not asked Gaddafi to step down, which is also what the rebels in Libya are fighting for.

OneIndia News