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14Apr11
UN, AL urge political solution, cease fire to stop Libyan crisis
International and regional leaders discussed in Cairo on Thursday finding peaceful means to solve the humanitarian crisis, achieve freedom and democracy inspired by the Libyan people.
The Arab League General Secretary Amr Moussa said at the beginning of the meeting that the Libyan crisis is mainly humanitarian and urged political solution to start with immediate ceasefire.
"Libya witnessed a serious humanitarian events due to the military operations that is running in Libya according to UN reports," he said.
Moussa asserted the importance of respecting UN Security Council resolutions in parallel with respecting the sovereignty of the Libyan lands.
The meeting, attended by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, EU foreign policy chief Ashton, head of the Organization of Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and African Union Commission chairman Jean Ping, came one day after the international contact group's meeting in the Qatari capital of Doha to address the Libyan crisis. "I have been urging Libyan authorities to stop fighting and allow humanitarian assistance," Ban Ki-Moon said.
"Killing his own people, this is totally unacceptable, this is the violation of human rights and international humanitarian law. I believe he has completely lost his legitimacy," Ban added.
Ban, who stressed the importance of this meeting to complement London and Doha meetings, said there is a necessity for mutual coordination to reach political solution for the Libyan crisis.
EU foreign policy Chief Ashton called on reaching a political solution through permanent peace in Libya, stressing the need for comprehensive political process to enable the Libyan to determine their future.
She highlighted the importance of united movements by the international society via supporting the special convey of the UN secretary general in Libya and full cooperation between the UN and the regional organizations.
A dispute erupted between the African Union (AU) Commission Chairman Jean Ping and Ashton over reaching the final communique on Libya crisis, Egypt's state-run MENA reported.
Ashton asked to include Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to step down in the final statement, but Moussa and Ping refused, MENA said.
Ping said it is necessary to keep contacts with Gaddafi to maintain dialogue, otherwise the whole talks would be managed by AU.
The head of Organization of Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said achieving ceasefire and the political dialogue must comprise all of groups and powers in Libya.
Dozens of Libyans gathered in front of the AL headquarter in Cairo to demand halting the massacres against the Libyan citizens and activate the UNSC resolution 1973 to protect the people.
On the contrary, some of pro-Gaddafi condemned the meeting and the decisions that targeted Libya. Clashes erupted between both sides with no casualties.
The spokesperson of AU Nour El Din al-Mazni asserted the AU was determined to pursue efforts in convening dialogue among all parties to reach a solution for the crisis.
He said: "we are realistic and we realize that the AU wouldn't succeed in the very beginning".
Moussa said the collective actions under the frame of Security Council among Arab states, Europe Union, Islamic conference organization and others are very important.
He added three challenges facing Libya, namely ceasefire, political dialogue and construction afterwards.
Moussa added in the press conference that asking for freedom and democracy became characteristic for the Arab countries in this stage, and they couldn't ignore the right of expression, saying " there is a great sympathy from the whole world regarding fair demands of their protests."
Ahmad Hagag, the general secretary of the Pan-African association said that AU moves came very late, and it should have taken the first initiative instead of waiting for the UN and AL decisions.
"Asking the Libyan leader to step down or not is the decision of the Libyan people who inspired freedom, democracy and fair constitution," Hagag added.
[Source: Xinhua, Cairo, 14Apr11]
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