WAR IN LIBYA:Amnesty Intl blames crimes in Libya on both sides + More Libya News

Laaska News  Sept. 13,2011
NATO says remnants of Gaddafi forces unwilling to negotiate
African Union to meet in South Africa over Libya
World Bank recognizes Libya’s Transitional National Council
Amnesty Intl blames crimes in Libya on both sides

Muammar Gaddafi. Photo: EPA   

 

Forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi, as well as members of the opposition, are both involved in ‘serious violations’ of international law, including torture, the 107-page report, released by the Britain-based Amnesty International, says.

 

The report was based on a fact-finding visit to Libya between Feb. 26 and May 28, and covered events up to late July.

 

Meanwhile, reports say that 85 hirelings loyal to Gaddafi, mainly from Croatia, Ukraine and Colombia, have been executed in Misrata.

VOR.

 

 NATO says remnants of Gaddafi forces unwilling to negotiate
BRUSSELS, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) — A NATO spokesman said on Tuesday that remnants of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s forces were not willing to negotiate with rebel authorities.

“Despite NTC’s (National Transitional Council) offer to seek a peaceful solution, as this week progressed, it became quite clear that remaining Gaddafi forces were not willing to negotiate and lose their grip on cities they still control,” said Colonel Roland Lavoie, spokesman for NATO’s Libya mission, from Naples via video link.

“By occupying and tightly suppressing cities such as Bani Walid and Sirte, Gaddafi forces are in a way taking the population hostage…In doing so, Gaddafi forces clearly demonstrated their intent to consolidate positions and threaten population in the triangle form of Bani Walid, Sirte and Sabha,” he said.

He said that situations in Bani Walid and Sirte remained “very volatile” , but may change “rapidly.”

NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu Tuesday told reporters that “Libya has gone a long way and NATO has gone a long way in protecting the people of Libya, but our mission is not yet complete.”

“In some part of the country, the situation remains fluid…We are determined to continue the mission for as long as necessary, but not a day longer than necessary. Our clear intention is to terminate the mission as soon as the situation allows,” she said.

 Xinhua.

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African Union to meet in South Africa over Libya

JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) — The African Union (AU) committee on Libya will meet in South Africa on Sept.14, the South African presidency announced on Tuesday.

The South African Press Association (SAPA) reported that South Africa and the AU have refused to recognize the Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC) as the new legitimate authority in that country.

However, the AU has attempted to mediate a peace deal between the NTC and the government of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Headed by Mauritania’s president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, the AU committee on Libya includes the leaders of South Africa, Uganda, Mali and the Republic of the Congo.

South African presidential spokesman Bongani Majola declined to disclose the agenda for the Sept. 14 meeting.

On Sept. 8, the South African Cabinet reconfirmed the government’s commitment to the AU roadmap as the best option to resolve the conflict in Libya.

In protest over the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s military intervention in Libya, South Africa boycotted the recent Paris conference on rebuilding the north African country.
Xinhua.

 

World Bank recognizes Libya’s Transitional National Council

 

The World Bank has recognized Libya’s Transitional National Council, the rebels’ leading body, as the only lawful government of the country and has voiced readiness to help it restore the national economy.

The Bank says in a statement it has circulated in Washington that it will grant loans to the new Libyan authorities, and will also help them in restoring the banking sector, managing financial assets and controlling state expenditures.

Earlier, the International Monetary Fund also pledged aid to the government of the rebels who have overthrown the Gaddafi regime. More than 60 countries, including Russia, have recognized the legitimacy of the Transitional National Council to date.

VOR.
 
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