US And South Africa Strike A Deal To Unlock (To Steal) $1.5 Billion Of Libyan Assets

US and South Africa strike a deal to unlock $1.5bn of Libyan assets (Independent, August 26, 2011):

The United States and South Africa struck a deal last night to allow the release of $1.5bn in frozen Libyan funds, giving the Transitional National Council (TNC) a financial boost as it looks to post-Gaddafi rule.

Diplomats said the agreement would enable the funds to be released without a UN Security Council vote on a US draft resolution submitted to the council on Wednesday in response to South Africa blocking a US request to disburse the money.

South Africa had remained steadfast in opposing the move until last night, and agreed to the deal on the condition that there be no mention of the TNC, which the African Union (AU) has not recognised, in the official request for the release of the funds.

The past beneficiary of hugely lucrative investment deals, South Africa has said that the Nato action in Libya has undermined the AU’s attempts to reach an amicable settlement through “quiet diplomacy” between the warring sides. The country’s vice-president has suggested that Nato could be prosecuted for over-stepping its mandate.

Pretoria’s stance had been attacked by several governments. David Cameron spoke to President Jacob Zuma yesterday to express Britain’s disappointment.

South Africa is the architect behind the African Union “road map” for Libya and says it cannot recognise the TNC while the AU still considers its own peace plan to be alive. This stance has been undermined, however, by the Nigerian government’s decision to endorse the rebel movement.

AU leaders are holding an emergency meeting on Friday in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to discuss a joint position. Only 11 African countries have so far recognised the TNC and for the AU to do so would be tantamount to it sinking its own peace plan.

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe’s call on Wednesday for Nato forces to face a war crimes investigation plays to a domestic audience that sees the Libyan rebellion as neo-colonialism. The African National Congress – in common with dozens of former and current African leaders, ruling parties and Treasuries – received millions of dollars from Colonel Gaddafi over the years and long pandered to his dream of becoming president of a united Africa devoid of colonial borders.

South Africa’s foreign affairs spokesman Clayson Monyela said the AU’s roadmap includes drafting a new constitution under the supervision of the transitional government, and a referendum on the new constitution, leading to democratic elections. “Our hope, as the South African government, is that this will be an inclusive process, which will have the elements of the TNC and that of the Gaddafi regime,” he said.

In reality, South Africa’s position looks increasingly untenable as more countries recognise the TNC as Libya’s legitimate government.

Turkey yesterday hosted a conference in Istanbul for the 28-member Libya Contact Group, which called on Colonel Gaddafi to hand himself in to avoid further bloodshed.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu urged the international community to “empower the TNC”. He said: “The Libyan people won the war for freedom, now it is time for peace. We should redouble our efforts to extend support to the TNC.”

William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, yesterday described the Gaddafi regime as “finished”. He said: “There is no way back for the Gaddafi regime and clearly many of its key members are on the run.”

Brazil, meanwhile, cautioned against repeating past mistakes. Its Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota last said that decisions over Libya’s future must not be dominated by Nato powers once the fighting ends, emphasising the need for the UN Security Council to lead the way. “It’s important that mistakes made in other places, for example Iraq, are not made again,” he said.

See also:

Gaddafi On TV As Rebels Claim He’s Trapped (Video)

Ex-Pentagon Official: ‘Gaddafi Switching To Guerrilla Mode’ – ’2000 Tribes Have Pledged Support For Gaddafi’ (Video)

Leak Of A 70 Page Criminal NATO Plan To Occupy Libya (Global Research)

Saif Gaddafi’s Web Of Connections To The Elitists (Rothschilds)

NATO Helicopters Are Inside The Streets Of Tripoli Killing Civilians – Every Night The Bombs Fall – Order: Kill Non-Mainstream Reporters In Libya To Bury The Truth

You Can’t Make This Stuff Up: International Criminal Court (ICC) NOW Claims It Never Confirmed That Qaddafi’s Son Saif Al-Islam Was Captured – NATO Psy-Op Collapses – Qaddafi Prevails Again

NATO Killers And PsyOps – NATO Wants To Destroy Libya, Not Gaddafi – French & UK Troops Landing In Tripoli? – Libya Will Win (Video)

The Battle Is Almost Over: Destroying Libya To Steal 144 Tons Of Gold

NATO Slaughter in Tripoli: Operation Siren Signals Assault By Rebels’ Al-Qaeda Death Squads

Libyan State TV Newsreader Brandishes Gun And Says She Is Willing To Become A Martyr (Video – Translation Below)

The unconstitutional, illegal war against Libya is not about protecting civilians …

Libya Update On The Retaking Of Misrata By Leonor

Libya: NATO Strike Kills Dozens Of Civilians (Reuters)

NATO Massacre Of Residents Of Zliten, Libya (Video, Aug. 9, 2011)

Libyans Under The NATO Onslaught (Aug 9, 2011)

NATO Bombs Libyan Hospital And Food Warehouses (‘In This Whole Area There Is No Military’)

Libya War Lies Worse Than Iraq: ‘The Reasons For The Libyan War Have No Merit In Any Form’

Libya War Crimes, Genocide – Lies Even Worse Than Iraq (Video)

Dennis Kucinich: The US Must End Its Illegal War In Libya Now – ‘The president even ignored his top legal advisers at the Pentagon and the department of justice who insisted he needed congressional approval before bombing Libya’

William Engdahl on Libya: ‘The NATO High Command Ought To Be Tried For Crimes Against Humanity For Bombing Civilians’

NATO Declares Total War On The People Of Libya: Bombs May Hit Any Place At Any Time! – Total Destruction!

US Admiral Admits NATO Trying To Kill Gaddafi

… it is about money, power and control. Libyans support Gaddafi:

Tripoli on the Cusp By Dr. Franklin Lamb

Libya Update On The Retaking Of Misrata By Leonor

Libya: NATO Strike Kills Dozens Of Civilians (Reuters)

US Recognizes Libyan Rebels As Libyan Government To Fund Them With $30 Billion In Assets Stolen From Gaddafi That Are Frozen In American Banks

International Lawyer Franklin Lamb In Tripoli – Libyans Ask ‘Why Now?’

Rep. Ron Paul on CNN: Libyan War Is ‘About Commercial Business!’ (And Totally Unconstitutional!)

Illuminati Banksters Raping And Pillaging Libya – Goldman Sachs And Muammar Gaddafi

Libyan Majority In Support Of Gaddafi: One Million Pro-Gaddafi Demo in Tripoli

Libya: John Perkins: It’s Not About Oil, It’s About Currency and Loans – Rothschilds Finish Off Gaddafi – ‘The Price of Freedom’, Highest Standard of Living in Africa

The US is not playing a limited role as liar in chief Obama said:

US Air Force Global Strike Command Hits 150 Targets In Libya Using Strategic Bombers

US Forces STILL Flying Hundreds Of Bombing Raids Over Libya As Liar In Chief Obama Says America Is Only Playing A Limited Role

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