Ramsco's Women Empowerment Initiative Recognized Among Top BRICS Businesswomen Practices for 2025    Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    Gold prices end July with modest gains    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Egypt's FM, US envoy discuss Gaza ceasefire, Iran nuclear talks    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Federal Reserve maintains interest rates    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Rafah Crossing 'never been closed for one day' from Egypt: PM    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Egypt's EDA explores pharma cooperation with Belarus    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



UN chief urges Libya political solution, ceasefire
Published in Daily News Egypt on 15 - 04 - 2011

CAIRO: UN chief Ban Ki-moon called on Thursday for a "political" solution and immediate ceasefire in the conflict in Libya, at an international conference hosted by the Arab League in Cairo.
"We call for a political process so that the Libyan people can reach their aspirations," Ban, who co-chaired the meeting, told a news conference at the end of the gathering.
"We reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire," said the UN secretary general.
European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who also attended the Cairo conference, appealed to Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi to resign with immediate effect.
"The European Union's position is very clear — Colonel Qaddafi should step down immediately," she said.
"The only solution to end this crisis is a political one," she added, calling for "a dialogue between all parties that should lead to a transitional period."
The meeting was also attended by the head of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and African Union Commission chairman Jean Ping.
"This conference aims to examine the solutions and political issues of the Libyan crisis and to coordinate the efforts of these various organizations," Egyptian state news agency MENA quoted Ahmed Ben Helli, deputy secretary general of the Arab League, as saying ahead of the gathering.
A diplomat who attended the meeting and requested anonymity said the AU's plan was "to persuade Qaddafi to step down" and allow his representatives to negotiate on his behalf in a national dialogue after a ceasefire.
The Cairo meeting comes the day after a gathering in the Qatari capital Doha of the Contact Group on Libya, which is responsible for monitoring international intervention in the north African nation.
The meeting decided to set up a fund to aid the rebellion, as well as renewing a call for Qaddafi to step down.
Noureddine Mezni, a spokesman for Ping, said that "an international mechanism to implement a ceasefire" in Libya was discussed at the meeting.
"The key now is an immediate ceasefire. Thereafter, we suggest an inclusive, comprehensive dialogue and a transitional period during which the Libyan people will choose its own leaders," Mezni told reporters.
"Among the ideas discussed for a mechanism to implement a ceasefire is the deployment of an international force" to interpose between the two sides, he said.
"A military solution is ruled out, and supplying arms to any party only means more destruction during what is already a humanitarian catastrophe," he added.


Clic here to read the story from its source.