Gaddafi’s execution left uneasy feeling about Libya: Zuma
November 2nd, 2011 - 6:54 am ICT by IANSCape Town, Nov 2 (IANS) An “uneasy feeling” about Libya’s future exists following the execution of Muammar Gaddafi, said South African President Jacob Zuma here Tuesday.
“It (the execution) has created an uneasy feeling about the situation in Libya,” Xinhua quoted Zuma as saying when he was speaking at a business breakfast meeting in Cape Town.
Gaddafi was executed Oct 20 after being captured in his hometown Sirte.
It would have been better for Libyans if Gaddafi had been arrested and tried so that questions could be answered about how he had run the country for 41 years, said Zuma.
“In (the) world of human rights today there are courts to try those who are committing certain kinds of crime,” the president said.
“Those pursuing him were supposed to arrest him… Unfortunately he was killed.”
Zuma said he hoped Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC) would “pull the country together”.
Gaddafi had responded to the Libyan uprising in a particular way which brought the situation on him, he said.
“Even when (the) situation got graver and graver he seemed to be thinking he could still defend his system,” Zuma said.
He also said that Gaddafi should have been tried at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“Given there was a warrant of arrest against Gaddafi, those who found him should have arrested him and handed him to the ICC,” Zuma said.
The president also said his country was ready to assist post-Gaddafi Libya.
“Let us put the events around Gaddafi’s death behind us. Our concern is the attainment of peace. South Africa is ready to assist all the way.”
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- Gaddafi killing smacks of war crime: Prosecutor - Dec 16, 2011
- Libya to form interim government in 8 months - Oct 22, 2011
- ICC in possible surrender talks with Gaddafi's son - Oct 29, 2011
- Libyan interim PM assures fair trial of Gaddafi's son (Lead) - Nov 20, 2011
- Gaddafi's son ready to surrender in international court - Oct 27, 2011
- Libya exhibits Gaddafi's belongings - Oct 25, 2011
- Russia urges fair trial for captured Saif al-Islam - Nov 20, 2011
- Finally, a hunted Gaddafi bleeds to death - Oct 20, 2011
- Video shows Muammar Gaddafi being sodomized - Oct 22, 2011
- New rulers declare Libya officially liberated - Oct 24, 2011
- With Gaddafi gone, NATO operations can end: France - Oct 21, 2011
- Moscow questions NATO attack on Gaddafi - Oct 22, 2011
- 53 Gaddafi supporters found executed in Sirte - Oct 25, 2011
Tags: attainment, breakfast meeting, business breakfast, cape town, execution, hometown, human rights, international criminal court, jacob zuma, libya, libyans, muammar gaddafi, national transitional council, nov 2, south africa, south african president, uprising, warrant of arrest, xinhua, zuma