Libya's interim government issues ultimatum to Gaddafi's faction

Libya's interim government has given pro-Gaddafi forces an ultimatum to surrender by Saturday (September 3) or face military conflict.

Mustafa Abdul Jalil, chairman of the National Transitional Council (NTC), said the deadline had been set for Col Muammar Gaddafi's troops in his hometown of Sirte and several other towns. The rebels were trying to minimize the damage from Gaddafi's forces as they advanced on Sirte in search of him.

Speaking at a press conference in Benghazi, Mr Jalil said if there were no "signs of peace" by the end of the week then "we will decide on the military side".

Map marking areas controlled by rebels (blue areas) - Photo: BBC

British Foreign Secretary William Hague welcomed the decision. According to Mr. Hague, the UN Sanctions Committee has agreed with the country's request to release $1.55 billion of Libyan funds that are currently frozen in banks in the UK. This money will be used for urgent humanitarian programs.

Mr Jalil has spoken to NATO officials and expressed the NTC's view that international troops will not be needed in Libya to ensure security. "We rely on our young generation and we are sure that this bet will be successful," he said.

The Christian Science Monitor reports that the International Criminal Court is considering issuing an arrest warrant for Gaddafi’s son Khamis, after a massacre was discovered near his brigade. Some 56 bodies were burned beyond recognition inside an old building next to Khamis’s 32nd Brigade barracks.

From left: three of Gaddafi's children entered Algeria: Hannibal, Muhammad and Aisha Gaddafi - Photo: AFP

This is seen as a sign of a massacre by forces loyal to Gaddafi before retreating when the rebels attacked here. According to Reuters, Colonel Hisham Buhagiar of the rebels said about 50,000 people have been killed since the civil war began six months ago.

Gaddafi's daughter gives birth

In another development, Reuters quoted information from two anonymous officials from the Algerian Ministry of Health that Gaddafi's daughter Aisha gave birth to a baby girl early this morning, and both mother and child are in good health.

The baby was born in Djanet, an oasis deep in the Sahara desert, 60km from the Libyan border and 500km southwest of Sabha, one of Gaddafi's last bastions of support. The pregnancy of Gaddafi's daughter Aisha was one of the humanitarian reasons Algeria considered when allowing Gaddafi's family to enter the country, according to the source.

Yesterday, Gaddafi's second wife, two sons and daughter Aisha entered Algeria to seek asylum. At present, news about Gaddafi's hiding place is still unclear. Many sources of information show some possible locations such as Sabha, Sirte or Bani Walid.

Citing Algerian officials, the country's Echorouk newspaper reported on its website that President Abdelaziz Bouteflika had said at a cabinet meeting earlier this week that Algeria would respect international law on the Libya issue. "As soon as Gaddafi enters Algerian territory, we will arrest him and hand him over to the ICC," the newspaper quoted the president as saying.

(According to Tuoi Tre)