Efforts to find a deal to end the civil war in Libya intensified on Tuesday, with a UN special envoy heading for Tripoli and Western powers signalling that Muammar Gaddafi could stay in the country if he gives up power. UN envoy Abdul Elah al-Khatib, who visited the rebels in Benghazi on Monday, is looking for a “political process” that will end a war that has failed to dislodge Gaddafi despite months of rebel attacks backed by NATO bombing raids. France and other Western members of the anti-Gaddafi coalition have signalled that the Libyan leader could stay in the country provided he and his circle agree to step down. A rebel leader this week appeared to endorse this view, which would mark a major shift in policy as previous demands have insisted that Gaddafi must leave the country. Deadlines are approaching for the NATO-led alliance, whose mandate for military action expires on September 27. Hopes have also been expressed that some agreement could be reached before the holy month of Ramadan begins at the start of August. Britain and France, two of the main backers of the campaign to end Gaddafi’s four decades in charge of the North African oil-producing nation, held talks in London at which they called once more for Gaddafi to leave power. British Foreign Secretary William Hague and his French counterpart Alain Juppe also said that it was up to the Libyan people to decide their own future. British officials said there had been no change of policy direction, but the comments were interpreted as tacit backing for the proposal that Gaddafi can remain in Libya after quitting. “Gaddafi must leave power,” Hague told reporters on Monday evening. “The best way of showing the Libyan people they need no longer be in fear of Gaddafi would be for him to leave Libya. “So that very much remains our position, but it’s also very clear that whatever is settled is a settlement which the Libyan people are happy with. It’s for them to determine their future, not for those outside to try to lay down that future.”
