African Union: Gadhafi Agrees to Peace Plan

AU Team Heads to Benghazi to Talk With Rebels

According to South African President Jacob Zuma, the Libyan government has accepted the African Union (AU) peace plan to end the civil war in the nation. An AU delegation is now en route to Benghazi to secure a similar agreement with the rebels.

The deal would have both sides enter into an immediate ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid into the nation. It would also lead to AU-brokered talks between the two sides for a long-term settlement.

Fighting has been continuing in Libya for weeks, with both factions contesting control over several cities. Likewise, NATO has inserted itself into the civil war, launching a large number of air strikes daily.

It is unclear, then, whether the war will actually end even if the ceasefire is agreed to by the rebels. NATO officials appear keen on continuing with their air campaign for the foreseeable future, and even if Gadhafi and the rebels agree to a formal partition, it won’t necessarily stop NATO from continuing to bomb Gadhafian targets.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.