London: Ex-Gaddafi aide Moussa Koussa has warned against the risks of civil war and the possibility of his country becoming “a new Somalia”. Speaking publicly for the first time since coming to the UK, Moussa Koussa told media that the unity of Libya was essential to any settlement.
His comments came after rebels rejected an African Union ceasefire proposal.
The AU says Col Muammar Gaddafi has accepted the plan, but on Monday his forces attacked the city of Misrata.
After eight weeks of fighting, pro-Gaddafi forces have recently pushed rebels back towards the east along Libya’s northern coast, but Nato has thwarted their advance.
Koussa was Col Muammar Gaddafi’s foreign minister until 12 days ago, when he fled to London.
“I ask everybody to avoid taking Libya into civil war,” Koussa said. “This would lead to so much blood and Libya would be a new Somalia.”
“More than that, we refuse to divide Libya. The unity of Libya is essential to any solution and settlement for Libya.”
Libya’s Minister for Social Affairs, Ibrahim Zarouk al-Sharif, said he could not comment on Koussa’s statement while the former foreign minister was “captured” in a hostile country.
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