World leaders gathering to discuss a Libya without Gaddafi
World leaders are meeting in London to discuss the future of Libya without Muammar Gaddafi.
More than 40 Foreign Ministers and representatives are expected to attend which is to be chaired by Foreign Secretary William Hague and opened by Prime Minister David Cameron.
The conference comes as opposition rebel fighters captured a handful of towns and cities is east and central Libya and are heading westwards: towards Gaddafi’s place of birth, Sirte.
The leaders – which includes US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, the Chairman of the African Union the NATO Secretary General and representatives from European and Middle Eastern countries – will revisit the UN Security Council resolution approved on 17 March with a view to strengthening it.
One of the key topics of discussion will be how to get humanitarian aid to regime-held cities like Misrata, which continue to see some of the worst fighting in the conflict so far.
Read more in the Channel 4 News Special Report on the Arab revolts
Perhaps the subject most likely to divide the conference is the question of what to do with Gaddafi himself.
On Monday, Italy said it was going to use the London meeting to push for Gaddafi to be exiled, in a bid to end the conflict as quickly as possible.
Rome’s foreign officials have been lobbying their German counterparts to back its plan which also includes a ceasefire and a permanent humanitarian corridor.
However, Britain and France – the architects of the UN resolution and the Eurpope’s biggest proponents and executors of the no-fly zone, are thought to be reluctant to allow Gaddafi an exit route, preferring to continue military operations in the hope the fast-advancing rebels will be triumphant in their bid to topple the dictator.
On Monday night, President Barack Obama vowed that the US would work with its allies until the day Gaddafi leaves power, but insisted it would not use force to topple him.
“We will deny the regime arms, cut off its supply of cash, assist the opposition, and work with other nations to hasten the day when Gaddafi leaves power,” Mr Obama said.
But he added that “it may not happen overnight” and acknowledged that Gaddafi may be able to cling to power.
“Broadening our military mission to include regime change would be a mistake,” he said.
This transfer from the United States to NATO will take place on Wednesday. Going forward, the lead in enforcing the No Fly Zone and protecting civilians on the ground will transition to our allies and partners, and I am fully confident that our coalition will keep the pressure on Gaddafi’s remaining forces,” he said.
Khamis Gaddafi still alive?
Libyan television broadcast what it said was live footage of Gaddafi’s son Khamis greeting supporters at his father’s compound in Tripoli.
A TV anchor said the images, which showed a man with a strong physical resemblance to Khamis, refuted reports that he was killed by an air force pilot who flew his plane into Gaddafi’s Tripoli compound.
Khamis is the commander of the military’s elite 32nd brigade, seen by many analysts as the best-trained unit in Libya.