Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi is not prepared to leave Libya and is prepared to seek a political solution to the conflict in the country, South African President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday.
Zuma said in a statement issued after meeting Gadhafi in Tripoli on Monday that the Libyan leader had called for an end to NATO bombings.
"He emphasized that he was not prepared to leave his country, despite the difficulties," according to the statement. "The personal safety of Colonel Gadhafi is of concern."
Gadhafi is ready for a truce to stop the fighting in his country, Zuma said, but he listed familiar Gadhafi conditions that have scuttled previous cease-fire efforts. Rebels quickly rejected the offer.
Zuma said on Monday that Gadhafi is ready to accept an African Union (AU) initiative for a cease-fire that would stop all hostilities, including NATO airstrikes in support of rebel forces. "He is ready to implement the roadmap," Zuma said.
Zuma said Gadhafi insists that "all Libyans be given a chance to talk among themselves" to determine the country's future. He did not say Gadhafi is ready to step down, which is the central demand of the rebels. He was speaking to reporters from South African and Libyan TV, which broadcast his remarks late on Monday.
China on Tuesday urged all parties to reach a cease-fire in Libya and resolve the crisis through political means.
Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said: "We expect the parties in Libya to give priority to the interests of the country and people, take into full account the mediation proposals by the international community and ease tensions at an early time."
Questions:
1. When did Zuma meet Gadhafi?
2. What does AU stand for?
3. What is the name of the Chinese Ministry spokeswoman?
Answers:
1. Monday.
2. African Union.
3. Jiang Yu.
(中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑)
About the broadcaster:
Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.