France aims to host meeting on Libya next week

PanARMENIAN.Net - France aims to host a meeting of international partners in Paris next week to lay out a roadmap for Libya's future, Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said, as rebels swept into Tripoli.

Juppe said it was not clear whether Muammar Gaddafi remained in the Libyan capital and he called on supporters of the 69-year-old leader, who fought last-ditch battles in the streets of Tripoli Monday, August 22, to lay down their arms.

"It's over so the fighting has to stop to save lives," Juppe told a news conference. "We call again for a ceasefire, there is no way out for the regime."

France spearheaded the West's military intervention in Libya but had been growing impatient in recent weeks.

President Nicolas Sarkozy made a gamble by taking a personal role in supporting the rebels and was anxious to avoid costly military operations running into the start of campaigning for the April 2012 presidential election.

"This is a subject of great satisfaction," Juppe said. "France has taken risks for a just cause." Sarkozy spoke by telephone Monday with Mahmoud Jibril, leader of Libya's National Transitional Council, and invited him to Paris Wednesday.

"We propose an extraordinary meeting of the contact group at the highest level as soon as next week to lay out an action plan with the Libyan authorities," the Foreign Minister said.

An aide later clarified the meeting could happen in Paris, Reuters reported.