AL JAZEERA ENGLISH: Leaked diplomatic cables tell a tale of sibling rivalry, private armies and multi-million dollar parties.On Saturday, the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution imposing international sanctions on Libya, including an arms embargo, asset freezes and travel bans. Resolution 1970 also referred the situation in the country to the International Criminal Court (ICC) - and marks the first time that the US has ever voted in favour of such a move.
This comes after more than 10 days of protests in Libya, which have been met with violence by forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi, the country's leader. Speaking after the vote, Ibrahim Debbashi, Libya's deputy ambassador to the UN, said that at least 2,000 people had been killed and added that the newly passed resolution would target all those responsible, including members of the Libyan leader's family.
Heir apparent?
Of all Gaddafi's children, the most outspoken throughout the uprising has been his eldest son from his second marriage. Once considered the heir apparent, Saif al-Islam has remained defiant since he declared that his country faced civil war and "rivers of blood" on February 20. He again spoke out on Saturday to say that his family was standing firm. Up until a week ago, many Western observers saw Saif al-Islam as a reformer - but times have since changed.
Recent years brought about a rapprochement of sorts between Libya and the US, after Gaddafi’s government renounced the development of weapons of mass destruction and accepted responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing. The Bush administration announced in 2006 that full diplomatic ties between the two countries would be re-established and that Libya would be taken off the US state department’s list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Two years later, Saif al-Islam was welcomed in Washington, where he met with Condoleezza Rice, the then secretary of state. In a recently leaked US diplomatic cable, US officials wrote about his "high-profile role as the public face of the regime to the West" being a mixed blessing. "While it has bolstered his image (he is probably the most publicly recognised figure in Libya other than Muammar Gaddafi), many Libyans view him as self-aggrandising and too eager to please foreigners at the expense of Libyans' interest." >>> Karim Haddad | Monday, February 28, 2011
