LIBYA: Curt Weldon, a former Republican representative from Pennsylvania, warns Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi that time is running out
Record ID:
1533629
LIBYA: Curt Weldon, a former Republican representative from Pennsylvania, warns Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi that time is running out
- Title: LIBYA: Curt Weldon, a former Republican representative from Pennsylvania, warns Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi that time is running out
- Date: 8th April 2011
- Summary: TRIPOLI, LIBYA, (APRIL 7, 2011) (AGENCY POOL) FORMER U.S. REPUBLICAN, CURT WELDON, SPEAKING TO JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER U.S. REPUBLICAN, CURT WELDON, SAYING: "That's hard to predict. I think they have to understand -- this was my point -- the gravity of the situation, and the fact that time is running out. I conveyed that as directly, as succinctly, and as personally as I could, with as much emotion as I could. You don't have time, this is happening, this is going to happen quick." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER U.S. REPUBLICAN, CURT WELDON, SAYING: "Not a transitional thing, that's not going to work. And I have been a supporter of Saif (Gaddafi). What I have said is allow interim government to manage the country and let Saif run for office. If there is a new democracy, a new constitution, then he can run for office. I don't have a problem with that, but the longer this goes, the less likely that is." VARIOUS OF WELDON LEAVING HOTEL
- Embargoed: 22nd April 2011 23:02
- Keywords:
- Location: Libya
- Country: Libya
- Topics: War / Fighting,International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVABPWV34CRZ2AJ39PDCTWISRD46
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Former U.S. congressman Curt Weldon was in Tripoli on Thursday (April 7) on a self-described private mission to urge the embattled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to step down.
Weldon, a former Republican representative from Pennsylvania, was in the Libyan capital city on a personal trip, and not acting on behalf of the U.S. government.
He said he had met with high government officials, including at least one son of Gaddafi, and told them "time is running out."
"That's hard to predict. I think they have to understand -- this was my point -- the gravity of the situation, and the fact that time is running out. I conveyed that as directly, as succinctly, and as personally as I could, with as much emotion as I could. You don't have time, this is happening, this is going to happen quick," Weldon told journalists after meeting.
Weldon said he supported Gaddafi's son Saif, and proposed he could run for office under a democratic system with a new constitution.
"Not a transitional ... that's not going to work. And I have been a supporter of Saif (Gaddafi). What I have said is allow interim government to manage the country and let Saif run for office. If there is a new democracy, a new constitution, then he can run for office. I don't have a problem with that, but the longer this goes, the less likely that is," Weldon said.
In an opinion piece in The New York Times, Weldon said he had made the visit at the invitation of Gaddafi's chief of staff and hoped to convince Gaddafi to step down, after which a U.N.-monitored ceasefire should be implemented. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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