Tripoli denies any talks on Gaddafi’s exit plan

TRIPOLI – The Libyan government has denied it was in talks about Muammar Gaddafi stepping down.

Five months into a conflict that has embroiled Nato and become the bloodiest of the ‘Arab Spring’ uprisings, there has been a flurry of reports about talks on Gaddafi ending his 41 years in power in exchange for security guarantees.Russia’s respected Kommersant newspaper based its story on a high-level source in Moscow. But the report was denied in Tripoli, and Italy said it believed talk of a deal was a ruse by Gaddafi’s administration to sow confusion.’Information about negotiations about Gaddafi stepping down or seeking a safe refuge inside or outside the country is simply untrue,’ Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim told Reuters.’Gaddafi is not negotiable, this is our position of principle, and the future of Libya will be decided by Libyans. Gaddafi is an historical symbol, and Libyans will die to defend him,’ said Ibrahim.’SEEKING GUARANTEES’The United States reiterated its position that Gaddafi should to step down. ‘We support whatever’s going to get us to a place where Gaddafi knows it’s time for him to go,’ State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said at a news briefing.Some analysts say that Gaddafi is starting to contemplate an exit plan as shortages of cash and fuel, the NATO bombing campaign and rebel military pressure shorten the odds on him being able to hold on to power.But Western diplomats caution it is in Gaddafi’s interest to send out conflicting signals about possible deals, in the hope of sowing confusion among the rebels and the fragile Western alliance trying to push him out.Kommersant newspaper reported Western powers, including France, were receptive to a deal with Gaddafi if he agrees to step down.’The colonel (Gaddafi) is sending signals that he is prepared to relinquish power in exchange for security guarantees,’ the newspaper quoted what it called a high-level source in the Russian leadership as saying.The report came a day after Russia hosted South African President Jacob Zuma – who has tried to broker a peace deal for Libya – and Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen for talks which focused on Libya.After his return from Russia, Zuma’s office issued a statement saying he had asked Nato to persuade the rebel National Transitional Council to come to the negotiating table.Russia accused France last week of committing a ‘crude violation’ of a UN weapons embargo by arming Libyan rebels, while Washington said it was acting legally, creating a new diplomatic dispute over the Western air war.Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said supplying arms was a ‘crude violation’ of UN Security Council Resolution 1970, which imposed a comprehensive arms embargo in February. – Nampa-Reuters