Raila calls for Gaddafi's ouster

APRIL FOOL

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has called for the removal of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who is at war to protect his 41-year stay in power March 31, 2011. FILE

By EMEKA-MAYAKA GEKARA
Posted  Friday, April 1 2011 at 11:39

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has called for the removal of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who is at war to protect his 41-year stay in power.

Mr Odinga said Colonel Gaddafi must be removed during his meeting Thursday with visiting US Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Nairobi.

The Prime Minister said the move would prevent further loss of lives and stop gross violation of human rights.

"The PM told Mr Ban that the Libyan leader’s actions against his people are totally unacceptable. He must go,” said Salim Lone, Mr Odinga’s adviser.

For the past two weeks, combined troops from the US, Britain and France have bombarded the Libyan strongman’s base to push him out.

The three world powers have launched air strikes under a UN resolution approving a no-fly zone over Libya to protect civilians from Gaddafi’s forces who are fighting rebels.

Mr Odinga’s position is in conflict with that of Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka who has called for a “negotiated deal” over the Libyan crisis.

The VP told Parliament that the air strikes violate Libya’s sovereignty, and should be stopped to allow a negotiated settlement two weeks ago.

Mr Musyoka was in Tripoli on February 16, to lobby Mr Gaddafi over Kenya’s bid to defer International Criminal Court trials on six Kenyans.

In their meetings with the UN chief, both President Kibaki and Mr Odinga defended the performance of the coalition government before UN chief Ban Ki Moon who came calling on Wednesday evening.

They cited the passing of the new constitution and setting up of key constitutional teams as among the achievements of their coalition.

Mr Ban first met President Kibaki at Harambee House at 11 am before crossing to Mr Odinga’s office next-door.

Those who attended the Harambee House meeting included Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Internal Security minister George Saitoti and his permanent secretary Francis Kimemia.

However, the two maintain contradicting positions on the fate of the Ocampo Six .

President Kibaki is in favour of a deferral of the cases through the UN Security Council, while Mr Odinga is categorical that a referral by the International Criminal Court on the strength of a local tribunal was the best option.

Mr Lone told the Nation that the Premier did not discuss PNU’s diplomatic campaign to postpone the post-election violence cases for a year.

“The PM briefed the UN boss on the progress made since the enactment of the National Accord and others issues but the ICC matter was not on the agenda,” said Mr Lone.

According to the adviser, Mr Odinga also discussed the post-election stalemate in Cote d'Ivoire.

Mr Odinga was last year appointed the African Union’s envoy to help persuade strongman Laurent Gbagbo to hand over power to Mr Alassane Ouattara, who is internationally recognised as the winner of the November 28 presidential election.

Mr Odinga’s efforts faced resistance from Mr Gbagbo’s side which accused him of being partisan.