Botswana severs Libya ties

GABORONE

Botswana has cut diplomatic ties with strife-torn Libya.

A statement from the Botswana Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday said that the southern African country is breaking relations because of the repression of anti-government protestors in Libya.

The statement added that the move has been necessitated by the defiance and lack of remorse shown by embattled Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.

It said normal relations will only resume once Libya becomes politically stable.

Botswana said it has nothing against the people of Libya and the break in diplomatic relations is targeted at the Libyan government.

On Tuesday, a furious Gaddafi appeared on national TV and called for the execution of those behind the revolution threatening to kick him out of power.

A day earlier, Botswana had summoned the Libyan ambassador in Gaborone to protest the bloody crackdown of the revolution.

Botswana told the envoy that it continues to monitor what is happening in Libya and urged for restraint in dealing with the protestors.

It said that as a peace-loving country, it is appalled by Gaddafi’s response which projects total disregard for human life.

Botswana said those responsible for killings in the Libyan crisis would one day be hauled before the International Criminal Court to “account for their deeds”.

It has been at the forefront condemning the involvement of the military in the revolutions in Egypt and Libya warning African dictators that their time is up.