Libyan rebels storm the fortified Tripoli compound at the seat of Muammar Gaddafi's political power and the principal base of loyalist fighters trying to rescue his 42-year-old rule. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).
Focus-Libya - Frattini on Libyan negotiations and political directions
ROME, July 5, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Focus-Libya - Frattini on Libyan negotiations and political directions
“The Libyans should be the ones to define negotiations and the political directions of the new Libya, we cannot negotiate in place of the Libyans”, Minister Frattini stated, underscoring that “this flurry of denials and counter-denials gives the idea of an unclear situation”. Frattini explained that “one thing only is clear: that Gaddafi must step down and that there is an international mandate for his arrest; Italy must work toward a political solution without the Colonel, but no one has ever thought of targeting or killing him”.
“Italy's position is well known and extremely clear”, foreign ministry spokesman Maurizio Massari stated in an interview with Al Jazeera, “we recognize the NTC as the only legitimate representative of the Libyan people, and believe that meetings and contacts with the Tripoli regime must be coordinated by the United Nations. This is our position and our hope is obviously for a political solution without Gaddafi”.
ROME, May 30, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The violence in Libya and Syria needs to stop but the “Arab Spring” must be helped, starting with support for economic and social development. The G8 Summit in Deauville, the first since the rebellions broke out in North Africa, shone the spotlight on the upheaval on the southern shores of the Mediterranean. It also set up an ad hoc fund to support the region (and more in general the entire Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region).
“Today we launched the ‘Deauville Partnership' with the people of the region, based on our common goals for the future, in the presence of the Prime Ministers of Egypt and Tunisia, the two countries that originated the movement, and of the Secretary General of the Arab League”, reads the declaration on the Arab Spring. “We stand ready to extend this long term global Partnership to all countries of the region engaging in a transition towards free, democratic and tolerant societies (‘Partnership Countries'), beginning with Egypt and Tunisia, in association with countries wishing to support transition in the region”.
According to the Final Declaration, “this Partnership is based on two pillars: a political process to support the democratic transition and foster governance reforms, notably the fight against corruption and the strengthening of the institutions needed to ensure transparency and accountable government; and an economic framework for sustainable and inclusive growth”.
The funds will be delivered through the international financial institutions and multilateral development banks and will be linked to support for development and to the reform effort.
The G8 also calls for the immediate cessation of the use of force against civilians by the Libyan regime forces and a political solution that reflects the will of the Libyan people. It states that Gaddafi and the Libyan government have lost all legitimacy and that the Libyan leader must go. It calls on the Syrian leadership to stop using force and intimidation against the Syrian people and to engage in dialogue and fundamental reforms in response to the legitimate expression of the demands of the Syrian people.
The G8 leaders also appeal for an urgent solution in the Middle East. “We are convinced that the historic changes throughout the region make the solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through negotiations more important, not less. We urge both parties to engage without delay in substantive talks with a view to concluding a framework agreement on all final status issues”.
Under attack: Vehicles belonging to forces loyal to Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi explode after a coalition air strike
24 Mar 2011 14:48 Africa/Lagos
UN Secretary-General Condemns Continuing Use of Force in Western Libya
NEW YORK, March 24, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
The Secretary-General condemns the continued use of force in the western part of Libya, including Zintan and Misrata. Once again, he reiterates his call for an immediate end to violence by all parties, in accordance with Security Council resolutions 1970 (2011) and 1973 (2011), and for the responsibility to protect civilians. All those who violate international humanitarian and human rights law will be held fully accountable.
Source: UNITED NATIONS
Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time 24 Mar 2011
Squatters vow to occupy the multi million dollar home of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's son until the property's assets are returned to the Libyan people.
OSLO, March 3, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The UN General Assembly has suspended Libya from the UN Human Rights Council in response to the Libyan authorities' gross and systematic human rights violations against the country's own population.
This is the first time a member of the Human Rights Council has been suspended since the Council was established in 2006. Suspension requires a two-thirds majority among the member countries. The decision taken in New York was unanimous.
Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre commented: “This decision by the General Assembly is important most of all for the credibility of the UN. It underscores that member states were serious when in 2006 they said that members of the Human Rights Council would be suspended if they committed gross and systematic violations of human rights.”
Norway co-sponsored the resolution, which was put forward by the Arab countries Lebanon, Jordan and Qatar together with the African countries Botswana, Gabon and Nigeria. The fact that the resolution was supported by the two regional groups Libya belongs to underscores the broad consensus on the suspension of Libya.
In the course of five days, the UN has unanimously condemned the situation in Libya in clear terms by means of separate decisions by the Human Rights Council (on Friday), by the Security Council (on Saturday) and by the General Assembly (on Tuesday). These decisions have also imposed measures that put further pressure on the Libyan authorities and serve to hold them accountable.
“This latest decision demonstrates once again that the UN member countries stand united in their condemnation of the regime in Tripoli. The Libyan authorities have a responsibility to protect the country's own population. The abuses must come to an end immediately, and those responsible be held accountable,” said Foreign Minister Støre.
