At UN on Libya, Jibril Says Gaddafi Is Needed at ICC, No Fly Scepticism of IRSA Unanswered

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 26 -- Libya was a main focus at the UN and Security Council throughout 2011, but Monday it was an afterthought, with the spotlight back on Palestine. The Libyan National Transitional Council's Mahmoud Jibril briefed the Security Council, asking that all assets be unfrozen.

Afterward Inner City Press asked Jebril if the TNC wants the travel ban and asset freeze to remain on Gaddafi and cronies. Gaddafi is "need at the ICC," Jibril answered, referring to the International Criminal Court. (Friday he told Inner City Press Gaddafi might end up being tried in Libya, click here for that.)

On the question the NATO, Inner City Press asked when the TNC thought NATO should put back. When civilians are not being killed, Jibril answered. When he left the microphone he chatted with Ambassadors Shalgam and Ibrahim Dabbashi, who also defected from Gaddafi's government.

A source inside the Council's consultations said that India, South Africa and Russia (call them IRSA) all asked when NATO would stop, pointing out that if commercial flights have resumed and high officials travel to Tripoli, the no fly zone is no longer in place, and notice is not being given to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

"We didn't get an answer," the source said, not seeming surprised.

Likewise scepticism was expressed about unfreezing all the money. "It's money for the government," the source said. "Except there is no government yet. We don't want it disappearing."

"In the desert," Inner City Press mused.

"Or to small islands," the source answered. There was a joke about small island states. And then the Libya issue was gone, eclipsed by Palestine. And so it goes at the UN.

Libya TNC's Jibril Tells Press NATO Almost Done, Catching Gaddafi Is Key

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 23 -- When Mahmoud Jibril appeared for a UN press conference on Friday, it was the first since the Transitional National Council he heads was given Libya's seat at the UN. Inner City Press asked Jibril two questions, about NATO and the International Criminal Court.

Jibril had said that the south is liberated, Sirte will be in 48 hours and Bani Walid is under seige, "we are squeezing it." Inner City Press asked if that is true, when will NATO's protection of civilians mandate end?

"When the need [to protect civilians] is not there," Jibril answered, "I don't think there is a need for NATO... Once the whole Libyan territory is liberated." According to him, if Bani Walid falls after Sirte, that's it for NATO.

Inner City Press asked for Jibril's and the TNC's view on whether Gaddafi and the other ICC indictees should be sent to the Hague, if and when captured, or be tried in Libya. Jibril said, "the most important question is how to catch Gaddafi." After that, he said, it's up to "legal consultants" to consider "the supremacy of Libyan or international law" and "the national interest of the Libyan people." Video here, from Minute 18:04.

This deference to consultants differed from Jibril's answers to other questions, on which he said it will not be up to the TNC, but to "the Libyan people" -- which was also Ian Martin's response to Inner City Press about the ICC - click here and watch this site.