Eye On The World: US Ratchets Diplo-Pressure Against Gaddafi

Glenn Williams hosts Eye On The World, a weekly look at foreign affairs with Scoop's Selwyn Manning. This week: Libya Update – The US Ratchets Up Diplo-Pressure Against Gaddafi's Regime

The United States has confirmed it has met with envoys representing Colonel Muammar Gaddafi where a non-negotiable message was delivered that the Libya leader must stand down.

The U.S. State Department said yesterday that the one-time meeting "was not a negotiation" but was set up to communicate an unambiguous message that Gaddafi must stand down.

The meeting took place in Tunisia on Sunday New Zealand time and involved Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman, who is in charge of the US's Middle East policy.

Four others from Gaddafi's inner circle attended the meeting.

Gaddafi's spokesperson, Moussa Ibrahim, described the talks as "a first step dialogue." He said the Libyan government does "not want to be stuck in the past" and would welcome further negotiations.

But he said Gaddafi would not consider any peace initiative that would require him to step down.

The US insists there will be no negotiations and that Gaddafi must stand down.

Moussa Ibrahim's response is this:

FULL AUDIO: 0:00 to 0:24

Earlier this week the US's stated that it considers Gaddafi's regime NOT TO BE the legitimate government of Libya rather it is moving to recognise the National Transitional Council as the authority in Libya.

That's caused Russia to react.

Russia, which has strong diplomatic and debt ties to Gaddafi's Libya argues that the United States should not back one side in what is a Civil War.

WITH AUDIO: EURONEWS ON RUSSIA FOREIGN MINISTER STANCE 0:08 to 0:39

Days before, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton formerly recognised the Libyan National Transitional Council as the legitimate authority in Libya, and that international funds and assets would eventually be transferred under its control. The TNC is who the rebels are fighting to instal in Libya.

WITH FULL AUDIO: US Sec of State Hillary Clinton: 0:14 to 0:33

Gaddafi's attempts at diplomacy do appear to have been masked, resting somewhere between an effort to stop the pressure on his regime, and provide him time to strike opposition forces inside his country in any way he can.

Gaddafi's envoys had earlier met with South Africa's president Zuma in an attempt to find a way out. But Zuma has now agreed with the US and NATO nations that Gaddafi must go.

So the Civil War rages on.

Forces loyal to Gaddafi have said they will not hand over the strategic oil city of Brega.

The warning is that if Libya's rebel forces do advance on Brega, and look likely to take it, Gaddafi will order the oil resource to be destroyed.

WITH AUDIO - HALF-VOLUME 0:04 to 1:04

Rebel commanders yesterday insisted they have over-run most of Gaddafi's troops on the outskirts of Brega, but as VOA reports, the city's streets are littered with land-mines, making it hard for rebels to secure full control. The land-mines were laid by pro Gaddafi forces before they pulled back from the City's parameter.

FOOTAGE OF CLEARING LANDMINES... WITH AUDIO – HALF VOLUME 4:45 to 5:07

As you can see from this footage, the pace of advancing over land littered by land-mines, is very slow.... It is also, to state the obvious, very dangerous.

Reports suggest the land-mines are causing around 50 percent of the casualties suffered by the rebel forces.

NO AUDIO: 0:24 TO 1:00

NATO airstrikes continue to hit Gaddafi's infrastructure. This footage shows NATO aircraft attacking radio installations around Brega.

The rebels initially held Brega in March, but were soon overwhelmed by Gaddafi loyalist forces which took the area back in April. A stalemate has been in evidence since then, with Gaddafi's forces unable to extend their hold, and the rebels unable to oust the loyalists from the area.

Rebel radio reports said that after three days of heavy fighting, aided by substantial NATO bombing, rebel units had bypassed the town – cutting off the garrison from its supply lines.

Brega is a strategic position because of its importance to the future of Libya with an important oil refinery, airport and shipping port that is a major export hub for Libyan oil.

Eye On The World broadcasts on KiwiFM and Radio Wammo at 7:40am on Tuesdays. Video on demand episodes also webcast on Scoop.co.nz.

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