South Africa’s Zuma in Libya

The Italian Foreign Ministry has reported that eight senior officers including five generals from Gaddafi’s army have defected along with over 100 soldiers. Apparently the group crossed the border into Tunisia and met with Italian intelligence. The officers appeared at a news conference in Rome where they appealed to remaining loyalists to abandon the regime while alleging that Libyan forces still fighting in various cities like Misurata are committing atrocities against their own people.

Jacob Zuma, president of South Africa, arrived in Tripoli on Monday for talks with Gaddafi about the Africa Union’s proposal for a ceasefire. This plan had previously been rejected by NATO and the rebels as it did not call for Gaddafi to immediately step down. With Russia finally siding with the West after the G8 conference, it would seem that Gaddafi will be hard pressed to find support for any idea including him in power.

Nevertheless, pundits are pointing out how it will be increasing difficult to get Gaddafi to leave of his own accord. Leaving may seem to Gaddafi like he is betraying the memory of his son Saif al-Arab and the three grandchildren killed in a NATO airstrike. The International Criminal Court is seeking arrest warrants for Col Gaddafi and his son Saif al-Islam. And his other son Saif al-Islam has always insisted that he and his father will “live in Libya and die in Libya”.

Zuma may seem like a chance to the Gaddafi regime of getting the NATO bombing to stop. However, with the announcement of France and Britain sending helicopters to assist in the campaign and daylight bombing runs showing NATO can act with almost impunity, the Libyan leader is going to be hard pressed to find a way out of this mess which does not involve him exiting the country.

Al Kazeera – May 30/2011

President Zuma in Tripoli

South African President Jacob Zuma has arrived in Tripoli for talks with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Zuma is expected to attempt to revive an African roadmap for a ceasefire between rebels and government forces.

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