SA will not ask Gaddafi to resign

2011-03-10 16:23

Cape Town - The South African government has no intention of calling on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to resign, Deputy International Relations Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim said on Thursday.

Responding to a question in the National Council of Provinces, he said government had condemned the use of force by Gaddafi.

"Government has not called for the resignation of the Libyan leader as it subscribes to the international principle of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of other countries."

Asked what government's view was on establishing a so-called no-fly zone over Libya - a plan currently under discussion among various Western countries - he said no action should be taken against Libya that did not have United Nations Security Council support.

"There are lots of opinions internationally as to whether such a move would be effective, whether it would contribute to stopping the violence, and a resolution of the conflict. So the matter is neither here nor there.

"We have not been asked to express any opinion, we are not involved... but we feel that any action that is taken against Libya should have the endorsement of the UN Security Council, and we would not encourage unilateral action outside the UN Security Council," he said.

- SAPA