LIBYA: Turkish PM Erdogan urges those still fighting to lay down their weapons and help unite the country, while condemning the ruling regime in Syria

Record ID: 217523

  • Title: LIBYA: Turkish PM Erdogan urges those still fighting to lay down their weapons and help unite the country, while condemning the ruling regime in Syria
  • Date: 17th September 2011
  • Summary: TRIPOLI, LIBYA (SEPTEMBER 16, 2011) (REUTERS) TURKISH PRIME MINISTER, TAYYIP ERDOGAN, AND LIBYA'S INTERIM GOVERNMENT CHIEF, MUSTAFA ABDEL JALIL, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE OFFICIALS LISTENING ERDOGAN AND JALIL SIDE BY SIDE (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRIME MINISTER, TAYYIP ERDOGAN, SAYING: "I am speaking out to the people who are continuing to fight in Sirte, cont
  • Embargoed: 2nd October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACQ2H9G1MIW9AFQAKXPEUHGJO8
  • Story Text: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, the latest foreign visitor to Libya, displayed Turkey's Muslim credentials by joining NTC chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil for prayers at Tripoli's newly renamed Martyrs' Square on Friday (September 16).
    Speaking at a joint news conference with Jalil, Erdogan addressed people in still fighting in Libya.
    "I am speaking out to the people who are continuing to fight in Sirte, continuing to fight in Sabha, and all my brothers there. Come and unite with Tripoli. Come and unite with Benghazi. Let no more blood be spilled here," he said.
    While some in Tripoli recalled Ankara's initial hesitation to join its NATO allies against Gaddafi, many see in Muslim, democratic Turkey -- the colonial power in Libya until a century ago -- a model for their country to follow.
    Erdogan, who hailed the fate of Gaddafi as an example to Turkey's neighbour Syria whose autocratic president has resorted to tanks and troops to try to crush popular unrest.
    "Our greatest concern is that developments in Syria do not turn into a sectarian war but with every passing day our view of Syria is clear. Those who attack their people with tanks and artillery will not remain in power," he said.
    At the same news conference, NTC chairman Jalil, said that elections would be held in the very near future.
    "In the draft constitution that we have made, we specified a maximum period of eight months to organise the election," he said.
    Despite the frustrations of trying to capture remaining territory, as well as Gaddafi himself and several of his sons, the North African state's new leaders are getting on with the business of government, seeking to impose order on various irregular armed forces and revive the oil-based economy.
    Those efforts received a lift on Friday when the U.N.
    Security Council eased sanctions, including those on Libya's national oil company and central bank, to enable key institutions to resume operations.
    The 15-nation council voted unanimously for a resolution that also establishes a U.N. mission in Libya.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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