Libyan Rebels Fail to Attend African Union-Brokered Talks About Ceasefire
Representatives of rebels fighting forces loyal to Muammar Qaddafi failed to arrive at a meeting organized by the African Union to discuss a cease-fire, an official from the group said.
The meeting, which includes representatives of Qaddafi and the 22-member Arab League, began at 11:30 a.m. local time in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, said the official, who declined to be identified because he isn’t a spokesman.
African Union Commission Chairman Jean Ping called for direct talks between the two sides to stop the fighting and agree on democratic changes, according to an e-mailed copy of his opening address to the meeting.
Today’s talks will focus on how to end hostilities, provide humanitarian assistance, create an “inclusive transition” and reorganize Libya’s constitution and electoral system, according to a separate e-mailed statement from the African Union. Participants at the meeting will also hold consultations about the impact of the Libyan unrest on neighboring nations, it said.
To contact the reporters on this story: Sarah McGregor in Nairobi at smcgregor5@bloomberg.net; Franz Wild in Johannesburg at fwild@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew J. Barden at barden@bloomberg.net.
Rate this Page