Libya ready for political reform says Gaddafi spokesman
As Libya’s leader Muammar Gaddafi appears among thousands of supporters in Tripoli a Government spokesman says Libya is ready to hold elections and reform its political system.
Moussa Ibrahim told journalists that Gaddafi is a “safety valve” for Libya to remain together.
He added: “We think he (Gaddafi) is very important to lead any transition towards more democracy, a better transparent system and more freedom for the press.”
Ibrahim’s words came as Gaddafi was driven through chaotic crowds in Tripoli.
People in the Libyan capital were clambering to get near his vehicle and frantically waving green flags in a show of support.
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Political reform
The Government spokesman said: “We could have any political system, any changes: constitution, election, anything, but the leader has to lead this forward. This is our belief.”
He added: “Who are you (the West) to decide what Libyans should do? Why don’t they say: we need the Libyan people to decide whether the Libyan leader should stay or go, to decide whether to have a different political system or not.
“Don’t decide our future from abroad, give us a proposal for change from within.” Moussa Ibrahim
“No one can come to Libya and say: you have to lose your leader or your system or your regime. Who are you to stay that?”
He said no conditions could be imposed on Libya from abroad, even though the country was ready to discuss proposals aimed at bringing more democracy, transparency, press freedom and anti-corruption laws.
“Don’t decide our future from abroad, give us a proposal for change from within,” he said.
“The leader has no official position to step down from. He has a symbolic significance for the Libyan people. How Libya is governed is a different matter. What kind of political system is implemented in the country is a different matter. This is a question we can talk about.”
He accused some Western leaders of trying to topple Gaddafi out of personal interest or for economic gain.
The rebels
Moussa Ibrahim criticised the rebels’ ability to form any future Government.
“The rebels have no unified leadership and they come from different walks of life,” he said.
“They have huge conflicts with each other. We hear news from Benghazi that groups of the rebels are fighting and killing each other.
“I would like to warn the West that they might be dealing with something very dangerous and very risky.”
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Channel 4 News Foreign Affairs Correspondent Jonathan Rugman went back to Libya’s Zawiyah on Tuesday. Less than a month ago, the town saw intense fighting. But now, the rebellion seems to have disappeared. Watch his video below.
