France Confirms Extra Funds to Bring End to Gaddafi's Libya
Libyan political and revolutionary headman Muammar Gaddafi is ready to step down from his position of power, according to Alain Juppe, French minister of foreign affairs. On Tuesday, legislators voted to increase funding that would enable the French military in Libya to end upheaval in the country.
The French National Assembly voted 482 in favor of extending the French military in Libya with 27 against it. When taken to the Senate, 311 votes passed the ruling with 24 people in opposition.
François Charles Armand Fillon, prime minister of France, said a solution to end the violence in Libya could be near. According to Reuters, the French prime minister is being backed by Russia and the African Union.
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“At its last summit, the African Union confirmed that Gaddafi would not be able to take part in the political transition," Fillon said.
The plan to overthrow Gaddafi and his officials has been costly for France. The country is currently leading the military presence in Libya. Military operations have cost France 160 million euros and involved 4,400 individuals. However, Juppe said the operation is starting to show significant progress.
"Emissaries are telling us Gaddafi is ready to go, let's talk about it," Jupe said. “Everybody is in contact with everybody. The Libyan regime is sending messengers everywhere, to Turkey, New York, Paris."
For close to four months, bombing and violence have overtaken Libya in a fight for power. Although Gaddafi is the figurehead and core reason for the political upheaval, Fillon told parliament that the goal was not to put the revolutionary leader to death.
Fillon has said a great deal of work still needs to be done to ensure that tensions in Libya subside. However, he said plans are still in development to overthrow Gaddafi’s reign.
"We have not reached the breaking point yet,” Fillon said. “But it's now that we need to be firmer than ever. And it's now that the international community must show itself to be unbending."
