LIBYA: VISITING TRIPOLI, UN ENVOY STRESSES NEED TO HEED CALLS FOR DEMOCRACY

10 July - The Secretary-General's special envoy for Libya, Abdul Elah al-Khatib, has had talks in the country's capital, Tripoli, with both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister, stressing the need for a political solution to the ongoing conflict to spare the people of further suffering.

Mr. Khatib, who visited Tripoli yesterday, emphasized that a settlement must address the legitimate demands and aspirations of the people of Libya for a democratic future.

“The Special Envoy raised ideas with respect to the management of a transition in Libya.

[He] also listened to the views of the Government of Libya regarding the impact of sanctions and NATO operations,” said a statement released by Mr. Khatib's office.

He will travel to New York over the weekend to brief the Secretary-General and the United Nations Security Council on Monday on his efforts to find a solution to the Libya crisis.

Libya has been engulfed by fighting since a pro-democracy movement opposed to the regime of Muammar al-Qadhafi emerged in February following similar protests in Tunisia, Egypt and other countries across North Africa and the Middle East.