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Sarkozy invites Libya rebel council leader to Paris talks Wednesday

Other News Materials 22 August 2011 17:46 (UTC +04:00)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy called on Libyans to begin a process of national reconciliation and invited the chairman of the Transitional National Council, Mahmoud Jibril, to Paris for talks Wednesday
Sarkozy invites Libya rebel council leader to Paris talks Wednesday

French President Nicolas Sarkozy called on Libyans to begin a process of national reconciliation and invited the chairman of the Transitional National Council, Mahmoud Jibril, to Paris for talks Wednesday, DPA reported.

In a statement Monday, Sarkozy condemned Moamer Gaddafi's "irresponsible and desperate" calls to his loyalists to fight on, as rebel forces took control of much of Tripoli, and called on all Libyans to "lay down the foundations of a new, democratic Libya," in which the rights of all would be respected.

Sarkozy said he had spoken with Jibril by telephone and invited him to Paris Wednesday.

France led the diplomatic campaign in March for international military intervention in Libya and for the rebel council to be recognized as Libya's legitimate government.

France also recently airlifted weapons to rebels fighting Gaddafi's forces in the Nafusa mountains, in a move that is believed to have been central to the rebels gaining terrain.

Sarkozy said the end of Gaddafi and his regime was "unavoidable and close" and called for remaining regime loyalists to lay down arms "without delay."

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