SA to host AU meeting on Libya

SOUTH Africa is expected to host a meeting of the African Union's committee on Libya today, the presidency said.

Spokesman Bongani Majola could not elaborate yesterday on what would be discussed.

Mauritania's President-General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz heads the committee which, apart from South Africa, also includes leaders of Uganda, Mali and the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville).

South Africa and the African Union have so far refused to recognise the National Transitional Council as the new legitimate authority in Tripoli, Libya.

The AU has attempted to mediate a peace deal between the NTC and the government of former Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi.

Last week the South African cabinet reconfirmed the country's commitment to the AU road map as the best option to resolve the conflict in Libya.

Earlier this month South Africa boycotted a Paris conference on rebuilding the war-torn country, in protest against the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's military intervention in Libya.

Majola referred further enquiries to the international relations and co-operation department. Department spokesperson Clayson Monyela could not be reached.