South African Presient is due in the Libyan capital on Monday, for talks that officials said will discuss an "exit strategy" for Muammar Gaddafi.

South African Presient is due in the Libyan capital on Monday, for talks that officials said will discuss an "exit strategy" for Muammar Gaddafi.

A source in Zuma's office, on condition of anonymity, has said that "the purpose (of the visit) is to discuss an exit strategy for Gaddafi," while another said South Africa was working with Turkey on the exit plan.

However, Zuma's spokesman Zizi Kodwa insisted that discussion of an exit strategy was "misleading," saying the visit was taking place within African Union efforts for Libya to adopt the political reforms needed to end the crisis.

In a statement on the eve of the visit, Zuma's ruling African National Congress slammed the NATO bombing of Libya.
"We also join the continent and all peace loving people of the world in condemning the continuing aerial bombardments of Libya by Western forces," it said after a two-day meeting of its executive council.

For their part, Libyan opposition hailed a G8 call for the strongman to go.
"The entire world has reached a consensus that Colonel Gaddafi, and his regime, have not only lost their legitimacy but also their credibility," opposition leader Mustafa Abdul Jalil said from Benghazi bastion.
"I would like to welcome the position taken... by the G8 where members emphasized the necessity of Colonel Gaddafi's departure," he said in a message marking 100 days since the outbreak of the anti-regime revolt.

"The position taken by the G8 is reflective of the will of the international community as well as the demands and aspirations of the Libyan people."
On Friday, G8 leaders from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States called for Gaddai to step down after more than 40 years in the face of pro-democracy protests turned full-fledged armed revolt.
Russia at the same time finally joined the explicit calls for Gaddafi’s departure.

The Libyan regime responded by saying any initiative to resolve the crisis would have to go through the African Union.
"The G8 is an economic summit. We are not concerned by its decisions," said Tripoli's deputy foreign minister, Khaled Kaaim.

"We are an African country. Any initiative outside the AU framework will be rejected," he said.
Kaaim, who confirmed Zuma's visit Monday, did not indicate whether Gaddaafi's departure would be discussed.

Referring to the Turkish mediation, Ankara last month gave the international community, including the African Union, a proposed "roadmap" to end the Libyan turmoil by removing Gaddafi and opening the way for a comprehensive political transition.