Libya uprising: Presidency needs to respond to reports on Gaddafi phone call

The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes with concern reports in the international press of a telephone conversation between President Zuma and Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
 
BBC Monitoring is reporting that Libyan TV has quoted President Zuma as "stressing the need not to depend on tendentious reports circulated by foreign media outlets" during the phone call. President  Zuma also reportedly calls on the African Union to "take decisive action and uncover the conspiracy that Libya is facing".
 
Libyan TV has been known to make a variety of statements for the purposes of propaganda, so it is important that the Presidency issues a statement immediately, clarifying whether a phone conversation did indeed take place, and whether the President made the comments that have been attributed to him.
 
The President's close relationship in the past with Col Gaddafi has long been a cause of concern. We must recall that just 12 days after being arrested on charges of rape in 2006, Jacob Zuma undertook a five-day trip to Tripoli where he met with Col Gaddafi. Numerous media reports have suggested that he provided President Zuma with financial support to contest the allegations against him.

In light of this, there is a particularly urgent need for clarity, and for the President to disassociate himself with the contents of these reports.

Statement issued by Athol Trollip MP, DA Parliamentary Leader, March 9 2011

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