Rebels Urge Gaddafi To Step Down In 72 Hours

Rebels Urge Gaddafi To Step Down In 72 Hours

The head of the rebel National Libyan Council, Abdel Jalil Mustapha, has called on Gaddafi to step down from his post in the next 72 hours.

Mustapha said this while addressing newsmen on Tuesday, as the rebels continue to push President Gaddafi to quit power.

In his words, "If he leaves Libya immediately, during 72 hours, and stops the bombardment, we as Libyans will step back from pursuing him for crimes."

He said that the deadline would not be extended beyond 72 hours.

Call for quitting talks

On Monday evening, a leading member of the government appealed to rebel leaders for dialogue.

Jadallah Azous Al-Talhi, a Libyan prime minister in the 1980s, appeared on state television on Monday reading an address to elders in Benghazi, asking them to "give a chance to national dialogue to resolve the crisis, to help stop the bloodshed, and not give a chance to foreigners to come and capture Libya".

The appeal did not detail any concessions that Gaddafi's administration would be prepared to make. The rebels said they will settle for nothing less than an end to Gaddafi's four decades in power.

Libyan state television has denied reports that the Libyan leader tried to strike a deal with opposition forces seeking his removal. An official from the Libyan foreign ministry described the reports as "absolute nonsense".

Gaddafi is expected to address the press late Thursday.

No-fly zone talks continue

Britain and France are spearheading a drive at the UN for a no-fly zone over Libya after Muammar Gaddafi's warplanes attacked rebels.

The air attack is intensifying as aid officials said a million people were in need.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Monday that London was working closely with its partners “on elements of a resolution on a no-fly zone, making clear the need for regional support, a clear trigger for such a resolution and an appropriate legal basis''.

A French source said France was also working with its UN partners on a no-fly zone resolution, just as Gulf States called for a no-fly zone and an urgent Arab League meeting.

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, in Afghanistan, where foreign forces have struggled for a decade, said action should be taken only with international backing, while the White House said all options were on the table, including arming rebels.

Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council with veto powers, said it opposed foreign military intervention.

NATO Secretary-General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen stressed the need for UN authorisation.

NATO has launched 24-hour surveillance of Libya with AWACS reconnaissance aircraft, the US ambassador to NATO said.

More sanctions

Japan said on Tuesday it had imposed sanctions on Libya, including freezing assets of Gaddafi and several other Libyans, in line with a UN Security Council resolution.

Japanese Finance Minister, Yoshihiko Noda told newsmen after a cabinet meeting that based on the UN resolution, the cabinet agreed that Japan would carry out the measures, for the sake of unity with the international community.

Refugees increasing

So far tens of thousands of migrant workers have fled but few Libyans.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres called on all countries to keep their doors open and be ready to provide assistance as humanitarian law requires.

He said that the assistance would help reduce the refugee situation.

REUTERS/ ALJAZEERA/Williams