Libyan rebels hesitate to accept AU peace proposal

The Libyan rebels group, the Transitional National Council (TNC), has remained defiant to the Africa Union’s proposal to start a negotiation with a Muammar Gaddafi-led government.

Libyan rebels’ delegation representatives held a closed-door meeting with the African Union’s ad hoc committee on Libya on Tuesday in Addis Ababa, African Union’s headquarters.

Rebels remain on their position ‘not to accept Africa Union proposal’ which aims to end the ongoing conflict and to start transition to democracy.
The Chairman of the TNC executive committee and head of foreign relations, Dr Mahmoud Jibril, said his delegation had constructive discussions with the African Union team, but it was premature to accept the peace proposal.

“We are going to discuss with TNC executive members and then respond to the African Union,” Jibril added. Jibril noted that the African Union proposal fails to provide a guarantee for the aspiration of the Libyan people for democracy and change.

Three days ago, TNC dissolved its executive committee and set to form a new administration to lead the rebellion with a new spirit. However, the African Union said in a statement that the discussion was open and fruitful, and that it expects a positive response from TNC as soon as possible.

Last month the African Union summit urged both the Libyan government and rebels to start negotiations, saying that the African Union peace proposal is the only available solution to end the crisis in that country.

Analysts said Libyan rebels were calculating their advantage between the ongoing fighting and the peace proposal, western involvement and emerging divisions and mistrust among the rebels, to keep the peace effort sluggish.

The Libyan government repeatedly expressed its willingness to proceed with the African Union’s proposal and to keep away its leader Gaddafi from the peace dialogue.