Gadhafi trying to strike a deal to leave Libya; International Community keeps close eye

TRIPOLI, Libya. – Moammar Gadhafi has reportedly offered opposition leaders a deal that would see him step down in return for safe passage out of the country.

The story has become not about whether the talks are underway, but whether or not it is a psychological tactic being used by the Libyan leader, whose forces are regaining ground that they lost at the outset of this revolution.

Some suspect Gadhafi may be up to his old tricks to appease the opposition before launching a much stronger counter attack.

“Everything that we’ve heard from Gadhafi until now has indicated that he’s not going to step down. He won’t do any kind of deals of any sort, let alone have him stepping out of power,” said CNN reporter Nic Robertson.

Meanwhile, Libyan warplanes launched at least five new airstrikes Tuesday near rebel positions in the oil port of Ras Lanouf, keeping up a counteroffensive to prevent the opposition from advancing toward the capital Tripoli.

There was no immediate word on casualties, and an Associated Press reporter who witnessed the strikes said they did not appear to hit any fighters.

Gadhafi’s forces have also reportedly captured the city of Zawiya, which is said to be in ruins with some buildings completely destroyed.

The leader’s regime has been using its air power advantage more each day to check a rebel advance west toward Tripoli on the main highway leading out of the opposition-controlled eastern half of the country.

The heavy use of air power underlines the vulnerability of the rebel forces as they attempt to march in open terrain along the Mediterranean coast and could prompt world powers to impose a no-fly zone over Libya to deny Gadhafi that edge.

The rebels are fighting to oust Gadhafi from power after more than 41 years, a goal in common with the protesters who managed to topple authoritarian rulers in neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt. However, the Libyan uprising has already proved much more violent, and could be much more drawn out.

On Monday, the United States and its NATO allies edged closer to formulating a military response to the escalating violence in Libya as the alliance boosted surveillance flights over the country and the Obama administration signalled it might be willing to help arm Gadhafi’s opponents.

Europe, meanwhile, kick-started international efforts to impose a no-fly zone, and the U.N. Security Council has discussed the issue. British and French officials said a resolution is being drawn up as a contingency, but it may not get far, as Russia holds veto power and has already rejected such a move.

It still appeared unlikely that U.S. warplanes or missiles soon would deploy in Libya, which has been sliding toward civil war, but the continuing violence increased pressure on Washington to do something or at least spell out its plan.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today