The United States on Monday called on Moamer Gaddafi to leave Libya as Washington’s most senior envoy to date held talks in the rebel capital in another boost to forces fighting to oust the strongman.
Washington’s call came a day after the European Union opened an office in the rebel bastion of Benghazi to show its “long term” support to the rebels who took their diplomatic offensive to NATO’s sole Muslim member Turkey.
“The United States remains committed to protecting Libyan civilians and believes that Gaddafi must leave power and Libya,” said a statement released by the US representative’s office to the rebels’ National Transitional Council. “The Libyan people, like people everywhere, have the right to determine their own future and the United States will continue to support them and to work with the NTC in this endeavour,” it said.
The statement came as the US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Jeffery Feltman, was in Benghazi for talks with the rebel leadership in a three-day visit. “Feltman’s visit is another signal of the US’s support for the NTC, a legitimate and credible interlocutor for the Libyan people,” said the statement. Britain, France, Gambia, Italy and Qatar have already recognised the rebel council as their sole interlocutor in Libya.
Washington’s latest move came a day after the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, opened an EU office in Benghazi. The European bloc’s foreign ministers were meeting in Brussels on Monday to look at ways forward in Libya as divisions emerge over an exit strategy. The ministers were expected to discuss how to get the rebels and Gaddafi loyalists to agree to a ceasefire that would include a pullback by regime forces in order to clear the way for a political dialogue.
“Member states currently are less united in the belief that Gaddafi must go before a ceasefire or political talks can begin,” one diplomat said. “But the rebel leadership will not budge on this point.” The EU also stepped up pressure against Gaddafi directly, widening sanctions on his regime. An EU assets freeze and travel ban against Gaddafi loyalists and firms suspected of propping up the regime was extended to a member of the Libyan leader’s inner circle and a Libyan airline, an EU diplomat said, without immediately disclosing details of those targeted.
In Ankara, the head of the rebel council, Mustafa Abdul Jalil, met Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday to discuss the situation in Libya, a diplomat said. “The parties should proceed to an exchange of views on the Libyan crisis and search for ways to deepen their relations,” the Turkish diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity. “Mr. Abdul Jalil will also discuss ways to improve coordination and cooperation with Turkey for humanitarian aid to his country,” the diplomat added.
