There are signs that Muammar Gaddafi is negotiating with parliament and rebel leaders to surrender power and leave Libya.  The UK Daily Mail reports that the Libyan dictator has proposed to meet with the parliament to work out a plan for the transition of power, “His terms include immunity from criminal prosecution and a pile of cash.”

The rebel interim council, based in the eastern city of Benghazi, reportedly rejected the offer because such an ‘honourable’ exit would offend Gaddafi’s victims.

 

Gaddafi allegedly sent Jadallah Azzouz Talhi, a former prime minister, to meet the rebels to work out the fine print of a deal.

 

The offer proposed that the dictator would hand over power to a committee formed by the General People’s Congress.

 

A source close to the rebel council said he had heard that ‘one formula being proposed by the other side would see Gaddafi hand power to the head of parliament and leave the country with a certain guaranteed sum of money.’  He added: ‘I was told that this issue of money is a serious obstacle from the national council’s point of view.’

Libyan state television broadcast Jadallah Azzouz Talhi’s appeal to the rebel leaders to negotiate a settlement of Gaddafi’s behalf, which is an indication that the dictator has agreed to discuss the terms of his resignation and exile.  Talhi is a long-time member of Libya’s ruling party and was referred to by rebel leader Ahmed Jabreel as being 'widely respected in Libya as a man who stood up to Gaddafi.'  Jabreel made it clear that any negotiations must require Gaddafi to step down adding that 'There can be no other compromise.'

Meanwhile there have been rumors that Barack Obama has offered his support for the new Libyan government on the condition that they surrender Abdel al-Megrahi (the Lockerbie Bomber) to U.S. custody.  Since his release on compassionate medical grounds, al-Megrahi has been a major embarrassment for Gordon Brown and the Obama administration. 

It is possible that trading al-Megrahi to Obama for U.S. support would be the surest way for the new Libyan government to give Gaddafi his ‘pile of cash’ and bring an end to the current conflict, while also giving Mr. Obama a taxpayer funded bounce in the polls and a new 'tough guy' image.

March 8, 2011

paboehmke@yahoo.com