African Union-Libya - The African Union (AU) would recognize Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC) only if the rebels clearly state they would form an inclusive government representative of all Libyans, AU Commission Chairperson, Jean Ping said Monday. AU’s supreme organ has last Friday held a high level meeting on Libya, which ended without recognizing the rebels, saying the crisis was still ongoing to make such decisions.

The meeting, however, decided that Libya’s membership seat at AU would wait for legitimate representatives of the oil-rich North African state. 

“Inclusive doesn't mean Kadhafi should be included,” according to Ping.

The AU believes it is over for Kadhafi and the fighting in parts of Libya, especially in Sirte, was unnecessary prolongation of the sufferings of the Libyan population; thus he appealed for all sides but mainly for NTC to stop the unnecessary fighting.

“Kadhafi should understand and NTC also should not continue; both camps should stop the killings because they are now not useful. One camp has been defeated, another one won,” Ping told journalists at his office in Addis Ababa, adding “Now, we have to think about transition, reconciliation, preparation of a new constitution.”

Ping also complained that the west ignored AU’s position to bring a peaceful end to the crisis, which has now proven the right solution.

Cessation of hostilities and ceasefire should be the priorities and these do not need negotiation because one camp has won the war.

According to him, NTC has failed to protect civilians, especially black Libyans and citizens of other African countries who were killed mistaken as mercenaries hired by Kadhafi.

The media and the west have ignored this reality, wherein NTC could not deter its fighters from committing revenge killings. 

“NTC seems to have confused black people for mercenaries. All black people are mercenaries, according to NTC,” he said.

Considering that a third of Libya’s population is black, this attitude would lead to a continued killing of innocent people, including those from other African countries, Ping explained.

That is not the only attitude, Ping complained about the Libyan rebels.

“The AU, however, is ready to work with everyone, even with NATO,” he concluded. 

Pana 30/08/2011