Gaddafi “is ready” to implement an (AU) plan to end the crisis in the country, visiting South African President Jacob Zuma said. However, the South African mediator did not publicly discuss the key obstacle: Gaddafi’s departure.

Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi “is ready” to implement an African Union (AU) plan to end the crisis in the country, visiting South African President Jacob Zuma, who was representing the AU, said. However, the South African mediator did not publicly discuss the key obstacle: Gaddafi’s departure.

Zuma on Monday held talks with the Libyan leader. The Libyan television showed pictures for Gaddafi and the AU envoy.
Zuma emerged from the talks saying Gaddafi was ready to accept an AU initiative for a ceasefire that would stop all hostilities, including Nato airstrikes in support of rebel forces.

"He is ready to implement the roadmap of the AU," Zuma told journalists in comments broadcast on South African and Libyan television. The roadmap would begin with a ceasefire that must include a halt of NATO bombing, Zuma said.

But the South African mediator said Gaddafi would not step down. Opposition fighters have reiterated they'll accept no settlement that keeps Gaddafi in power.
"We discussed the necessity of giving the Libyan people the opportunity to solve their problem on their own," he added.

OPPOSITION REJECTS
But the calls for a ceasefire were immediately rejected by opposition Foreign Minister Fathi Baja, in Benghazi.
"We refuse completely. We don't consider it a political initiative, it is only some stuff that Gaddafi wants to announce to stay in power," he told the Associated Press news agency.
Baja added that the opposition was preparing to launch an offensive against Gaddafi.

FRESH RAIDS
Meanwhile,   Libyan state television reported fresh NATO air raids overnight Monday to Tuesday against targets in Tripoli, the suburb of Tajura and Al-Jafra, a city to the south of the capital.
The report, on Jamahiriya TV, cited a military source as saying that "NATO colonialist " had targeted military and civilian sites in Tripoli and Tajura, causing deaths and damage.

Zuma said that NATO raids were undermining African mediation efforts.
"Even going there had to be delayed because of bombing," he said in apparent reference to an initial AU mission to Libya.
"We only went there long after the time that we had taken a decision, and even going there, you have to ask permission from the NATO to get to Libya."