Presidency says SA is not ambiguous on Libya

The Presidency issued a statement on Wednesday evening saying that President Jacob Zuma is not ambiguous on the issue of Libya and has stated his stance on the matter clearly.

“The media has made reference to reports on Libyan television about some remarks which are apparently attributed to President Jacob Zuma relating to Libya,” the statement says.

“President Zuma has spoken out clearly on the Libyan question. South Africa has openly condemned the loss of life and attacks on civilians and reported violations of human rights in Libya.

“The country supports the positions taken by the African Union and the United Nations on Libya and there has never been any ambiguity about the position of either President Zuma or the country.

“The president stated his views and those of the country publicly as well at a press conference with President Nicolas Sarkozy of the Republic of France during the recent state visit, where he, among others, called for an end to violence against civilians.

Take decisive action
The Democratic Alliance had earlier called on Zuma to clarify BBC reports about a telephone conversation with the Libyan leader.

“The Democratic Alliance notes with concern reports in the international press of a telephone conversation between President [Jacob] Zuma and Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi,” the DA’s parliamentary leader Athol Trollip said in a statement.

He said BBC Monitoring was reporting that Libyan TV had quoted Zuma as “stressing the need not to depend on tendentious reports circulated by foreign media outlets” during the phone call.

Zuma reportedly also called on the African Union to “take decisive action and uncover the conspiracy that Libya is facing”.

“The Presidency will not be drawn into rumours and distortions of the conversation with the Leader of Libya, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who had called to explain his side of the story,” the statement said.