France says Gaddafi could stay in Libya - Let bygones be bygones

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news/international/France_says_Gaddafi_could_stay_in_Libya.html?cid=30675814

Jul 20, 2011 - 19:04

By Brian Love

PARIS (Reuters) - Muammar Gaddafi could stay in Libya if he gives up power, France said on Wednesday, signalling a new effort to find a diplomatic solution to a five-month-old war that has failed to oust the resilient leader.

The United States said Gaddafi must quit, but whether he remained in Libya after that would be up to the Libyan people.

"He needs to remove himself from power ... and then it's up to the Libyan people to decide," White House spokesman Jay Carney said when asked if Washington share France's view.

However, Gaddafi's foreign minister swiftly dismissed the French proposal, saying Gaddafi's departure after 41 years in power was not a matter for discussion.

[gratuitous]

1. Translation

"Bastard had more support than we thought, and the rebels were bigger stumblebums than we gave them credit for."

[Igel]

2. And it continues . . .

"So let's let him stay, for now. After all, it's not like our mercenaries . . . uh, allies ... are likely to let him do this. We look good and they look independent. And if the merc-... allies don't mercifully deal with him harshly and preremptorily, we can always compel his arrest and removal to the ICC. It's just if we say that we might look as weaselly as some Americans say we are."