Libyan opposition rejects offer to negotiate with government
Rebels yesterday rejected an offer of negotiations with President Gadhafi's government, while government forces are blocking rebel advances and denying reports that they are seeking to contact them.
According to former Libyan Justice Minister Moustapha Abdeljalil, chairman of the National Council, Mr. Gadhafi did not personally send a special envoy, but lawyers for the government in Tripoli offered to act as intermediaries for the two sides to negotiate an end to the fighting in Misrata, Libya's third city just 150 km from Tripoli, where many battles with heavy weapons took place.
“We of course want to stop the bloodbath, but first Mr. Gadhafi must step down, must leave Libya, and we will not prosecute him,” the National Council President declared.
But according to AFP news agency, a Libyan government official confirmed that there was no offer of negotiation from the Gadhafi government.
The United Nations is concerned about the lack of flights to bring Asian citizens evacuated from Libya back home.
Entering their fourth week of fighting against the government, Libya's opposition now controls much of the east and several cities in the west. But the rebels' advances have been halted in recent days by a government counter-offensive, with airstrikes and deadly attacks on several cities.
According to the latest reports, a plane yesterday bombed a building near the oil port of Ras Lanouf. This is the first time a residential area has been bombed in Ras Lanouf, which rebels have captured since March 4.
Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa yesterday accused the West of trying to divide Libya by contacting those who have defected to the opposition. Gaddafi had previously accused France of “interfering in internal affairs” after Paris announced its support for the National Council.
For their part, Western countries are also looking to help the rebels, possibly by establishing a no-fly zone over Libya or providing them with weapons, but both of these solutions face many obstacles.
The UN says up to 1 million people, mostly foreign workers, have either fled Libya or remain trapped there, and it has appealed for $160 million in international donations for emergency aid.
The United Nations expressed concern yesterday over the lack of flights to bring home Asian (especially Bangladeshi) and black African nationals. According to the UN's assessment, about 5,000 people, including 3,500 Bangladeshis, are waiting to be evacuated on the Egyptian border, where tensions between the displaced are increasing.
Meanwhile, in Yemen, the government is struggling to contain the escalating violence caused by protests. Yesterday, clashes between protesters and government troops left at least 98 people injured.
Last night, hundreds of people also took to the streets in the Gulf state of Kuwait to demand the replacement of the prime minister and political reform.
Oil prices on the New York market on March 7 reached $107/barrel, the highest level in more than 2 years. Saudi Arabia yesterday assured that it would prevent any possibility of disrupting the supply to the world oil market. This news helped cool down oil prices yesterday.
According to Dan Tri
