Turkey Offers To Mediate A Ceasefire Between The Rebels And Gaddafi's Regime

Photo: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan receives the Al-Gaddafi International Prize for Human Rights in December. Hürriyet photo

Turkey Offers To Broker Libya Ceasefire As Rebels Advance On Sirte -- The Guardian

Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan challenges western direct action and says prolonged conflict could lead to a 'second Iraq'

The Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signalled that Turkey is ready to act as a mediator to broker an early ceasefire in Libya, as he warned that a drawn-out conflict risked turning the country into a "second Iraq" or "another Afghanistan" with devastating repercussions both for Libya and the Nato states leading the intervention.

In an exclusive interview with the Guardian, Erdogan said that talks were still under way with Muammar Gaddafi's government and the Transitional National Council. He also revealed that Turkey is about to take over the running of the rebel-held Benghazi harbour and airport to facilitate humanitarian aid, in agreement with Nato.

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My Comment: It is known that Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has a close relationship with Muammar Gaddafi, a relationship that would not be acceptable to the rebel movement. But this may all be moot in the next few days/weeks. The rebels now have the momentum to advance to Gaddafi's stronghold at Tripoli and to confront his loyalist troops that are stationed there .... the way things are now going .... Gaddafi's days as leader of Libya are rapidly coming to a close and talk of a ceasefire is just that .... talk.