Ceasefire plan reportedly accepted by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi

Ceasefire in Libya nears

A ceasefire plan drafted by African leaders was reportedly accepted by their "brother leader" Moammar Gadhafi and may pave the way for the end of hostilities between pro-Gadhafi forces and rebels being aided by NATO airstrikes.

After some early victories, the rebels were being pushed back away from Tripoli by Gadhafi's forces. But NATO planes struck government troops to cripple the advance.

But the battle is looking more and more like a stalemate and a ceasefire may be the best option for both sides.

The truce is to be discussed by the African Union with Libyan rebels on Monday. Under the plan, a ceasefire will be followed by allowing access for humanitarian aid and a dialogue between Gadhafi and the rebels.

"We have completed our mission with the brother leader, and the brother leader's delegation has accepted the road map as presented by us," said Jacob Zuma, president of South Africa.

Zuma, along with leaders of Libyan neighbors Mali and Mauritania, met Gadhafi in Tripoli on Sunday.

The conflict is the biggest threat encountered by the 40-year regime of Gadhafi, who has lost a huge chunk of Libyan territory to rebels since the start of the conflict two months ago.

Zuma urged NATO to consider a ceasefire even though Gadhafi broke one earlier and continued his advance towards rebel-held cities.

It is unclear at this point if NATO will seriously consider the plan brokered by the African Union, since the organization fell to Gadhafi's sphere of influence years ago using oil money.

Still with mounting casualties among civilians and the conflict's effect on the oil market, NATO and its allies may yet agree on a ceasefire.

Posted by James Fried on Monday April 11 2011, 5:18 AM EST. Ref: Yahoo. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, World. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0