Muammar Gaddafi called Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to negotiate a passage into his country but the latter refused to take his call, a local newspaper reported on Thursday.
Algeria announced on Monday that Gaddafi’s wife, two of his sons and his daughter had crossed into its territory, prompting Libya’s ruling interim council to demand thatthey be handed back to face trial.
Quoting a source close to the Algerian presidency, Algeria’s El Watan newspaper saidGaddafi was believed to be on the Libyan-Algerian border town of Ghadamis.
His location remains unknown more than a week after Tripoli fell to his foes.
A top military commander of Libya’s National Transitional Council said on Thursday he was believed to be in the desert town of Bani Walid about 150km southeast of Tripoli.
“Gaddafi tried to reach President Bouteflika byphone but he refused to take the call.
“A presidential adviser excused him saying he was absent and busy with events in Algeria,” El Watan quoted the source as saying in a report on its website.
It was not clear when the call was made.
“It is not the first timethat Gaddafi and someof his aides have tried to get in touch with the president for potential negotiations.
“However, the Algerianposition is clear and neutral and we refuse to get involved in Libya’s internal affairs,” it quoted the source as saying.
No one was immediately available for comment from theAlgerian government.
Foreign Minister MouradMedelci said on Thursday Algeria would not give refuge to Gaddafi himself, although it had allowedGaddafi’s wife and three of his children to enter the country.
The NTC has denounced the move as an act of aggression.
El Watan quoted the source as saying the NTC had been told about Gaddafi family members crossing into Algeria.
No comments:
Post a Comment