South Africa is Not Facilitating Qaddafi's Exit

Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said on Monday that South Africa is not facilitating Muammar Gaddafi's exit from Libya, after rebels swept into Tripoli.

She said, "Should we start speculating if he is going to ask for asylum in South Africa? No, we will not speculate because we know yes for sure that he will not ask to come here,"

"The planes that South Africa had sent; South Africa always, in a situation of strife, sends means of transport to evacuate embassy staff and whoever is there South African that is found in that particular area. So, all our staff were evacuated into Tunisia where they will be airlifted back to the country. Other than that, there was absolutely no other aircraft or plan to send any mode of transport into Libya to evacuate anybody else except our own citizens,"

She added"As far as we are concerned, the Libyan people themselves need to decide what to do next about the future of their country, including the future of their leader,"

"We regret any loss of life that was brought by this conflict which could have been avoided," she added.

"Colonel Gaddafi had said to the AU (African Union) that he is prepared to step aside at that time, that the future of Libya must be decided by Libyans, including his own future, so we've never envisaged him being part of any negotiations whatsoever. That he has said to the AU leadership."

Libyan government tanks shelled parts of central Tripoli on Monday after rebels swept into the heart of the city and crowds took to the streets to celebrate what they saw as the end of Gaddafi's four decades in power.

Speaker:
South Africa's Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane