Libya: William Hague hints at Muammar Gaddafi exile Skip to main content

Libya: William Hague hints at Muammar Gaddafi exile

William Hague arrives at the conference Mr Hague also said the UK was not planning to arm rebels.

Libya Crisis

Foreign Secretary William Hague has hinted that the UK might accept Muammar Gaddafi going into exile as a way of solving the crisis in Libya.
Mr Hague said he would prefer to see the Libyan leader held to account at the International Criminal Court.
But he told the BBC a move into exile would create the kind of change that "most of the world and probably most of the Libyan people want to see".
His comments came after allies met in London to discuss Libya's future.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister David Cameron has written an article in the Arab press promising the international community will stand by the people of Libya.
Italy is talking to a number of countries about a possible deal which would allow Col Gaddafi to take refuge, possibly in another African state, in exchange for a ceasefire and transition of power.
In an interview with BBC Two's Newsnight, Mr Hague did not reject the idea of Col Gaddafi going into exile.
"That is up to him. There is no doubt that if Colonel Gaddafi left power - wherever he went - there would be a major change in the situation, and that is what most of the world and probably most of the Libyan people want to see," he said.
"That is up to him to decide. That's not up to us to decide."
'Protect civilians' He added: "I would like to see him brought to account, but of course it is possible for people to go to places where you can't get at them - where the ICC can't get at them."

“Start Quote

We will continue to protect their lives, defend their rights and support their aspirations”
David Cameron
Mr Hague also said the UK was not planning to give military assistance to rebels fighting forces loyal to Col Gaddafi, despite the US suggesting it might be legal under the UN resolution that launched military action by a coalition of countries.
"Others may choose to do so, but we are not proposing to arm the rebels in any form," he said.
On the possibility of Col Gaddafi going into exile, shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander said he hoped the Libyan leader would appear at the ICC.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, "I continue to support the International Criminal Court and I do not think that heads of state should be able to murder, indiscriminately, their own people and not have to fear the rule of law catching up with them in foreign jurisdictions."
In a joint article with Qatari Prime Minister Hamed Bin Jassem, published in the pan-Arab Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, the prime minister said Tuesday's London conference on Libya sent a clear message to Col Gaddafi that he would not be allowed to continue to brutalise his own people.
"And it sends a message of hope to the Libyan people too: 'we are on your side'," the two premiers said.
"We will continue to protect their lives, defend their rights and support their aspirations - and we will continue to support them on the path that they choose to take."
On Tuesday, pro-Gaddafi forces drove the rebels back tens of kilometres over ground they had taken in recent days after coalition air strikes.
The rebels have now retreated eastwards past the town of Ras Lanuf.
The coalition military action is aimed at enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya and protecting civilians from attacks by forces loyal to Col Gaddafi. It has denied air strikes are meant to provide cover for a rebel advance.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12902694
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