Turkish premier urges Libyan ruler to immediately cede power and leave Libya

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday urged Libyan long-time ruler Moammar Gaddafi to "immediately" cede power and leave Libya.

"We wish that the Libyan leader pulls out from Libya and cedes power immediately - for himself and for the future of his country - without causing more bloodshed, tears and destruction," Erdogan told reporters.

Gaddafi’s departure has become "inevitable," he said, adding that the Libyan leader "must take this historic step in the name of Libya's future, territorial integrity and peace."

It was the first time that Turkey publicly urged Gaddafi to step down, even though the Turkish premier said he had previously conveyed the same message in contacts with the administration in Tripoli. "Unfortunately, Gaddafi ignored our advice and... opted for bloodshed, oppression and attacking his own people," Erdogan said.

Gaddafi "must return power to its genuine owners - the Libyan people," he said. "Libya is not the property of a single man or one family," he added.

On Monday, Turkey closed its embassy in Tripoli in the wake of weekend attacks on Western missions.