Libya: Kusa warns against the possibility of civil war

Libya's former foreign minister Musa Kusa has warned against the possibility of a civil war. Speaking openly for the first times since his arrival in the UK almost two weeks ago, Kusa said unity in Libya was of utmost importance if a settlement is to be reached.

The former foreign minister noted: “I ask everybody to avoid taking Libya into civil war...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...The solution in will come from the Libyans themselves, through discussion and democratic dialogue."

Kusa made the above statement shortly after Libyan rebels rejected African Union's (AU) proposal of a ceasefire. It is believed that Colonel Mu'ammar Qadhafi had accepted the offer, however, that didn't prevent his forces attacking the city of Misrata the following day.

Kusa's defection is yet to be acknowledged by the regime. Speaking about the latest developments Libya's Minister for Social Affairs, Ibrahim Zarouk Al-Sharif, said he could not comment on Kusa's statement while the former foreign minister was "captured" in a foreign country.

Sources: BBCNews, Politics.co.uk, The Press Association, GlobalPost

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