Report: Sons urge Gaddafi to seek asylum in Nicaragua

Ortega offers political asylum to Libyan leader in move supported by US; UN Human Rights council suspends Libya.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, REUTERS
Libyan anti-Gaddafi protests (R) 311 (photo credit: REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah)
Libyan anti-Gaddafi protests (R) 311
(photo credit: REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah)
The children of Muammar Gaddafi have called on their father to give up leadership and leave the country to receive political asylum from the President of Nicaragua Daniel Ortega, Army Radio reported on Wednesday.
According the report, Gaddafi family associates living outside of Libya reported that the brothers already received the constent of the Nicaragua move, which was also supported by the United States.
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The Libyan leader however, refused the suggestion and insists on staying in power and fighting back against the protests sweeping across his country.
Gaddafi's other son Saif al Islam, however, came out in support of his father and earlier warned the West against any military action against his father saying, ""we are ready, we are not afraid."
On Tuesday the United Nations General Assembly unanimously suspended Libya's membership in the UN Human Rights Council.
The resolution was adopted by consensus in the 192-nation General Assembly on the basis of a recommendation from the 47-member Geneva-based council, the principal UN rights forum. That body accused Libyan authorities last Friday of "gross and systematic violations of human rights."
Venezuela's UN Ambassador Jorge Valero sought to turn the spotlight on the United States, which he said was preparing to take advantage of the situation in the oil-producing North African nation to invade and siphon off its energy resources.
"We urge peace-loving nations in all regions of the world to put a stop to the invasion plans against Libya, which have been unashamedly announced by the Department of State of the United States and the Pentagon," he said.
While not breaking the consensus, Cuba and Nicaragua, like Venezuela, disputed the move to suspend Libya.