Libyan ambassador ordered to leave Zimbabwe

Harare

LIBYAN Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Taher Elmagrahi and his embassy staff have been ordered to leave the country immediately after they defected to the NATO-backed National Transitional Council on Wednesday.
The rebels this week claimed to have taken control of Libya after its leader Muammar Gaddafi reportedly fled and his whereabouts are still unknown.

In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said a lot of enquiries had been made to the ministry regarding the status of the Libyan Jamahiriya in Harare thereby making it necessary for the Ministry to clarify its status.
The ministry said the Government of Zimbabwe had relations with the government of the Libyan Jamahiriya.

"It does not have such relations with the National Transitional Council. If the Ambassador of the Embassy of the Libyan Jamahiriya in Harare and his staff defect to the National Transitional Council, they will cease to have legal status in Zimbabwe and will be requested to leave the country immediately. Flying the flag of the National Transitional Council in Harare is an illegal act under the laws of Zimbabwe," read the statement.

Ambassador Elmagrahi defected to the rebels on Wednesday and hoisted the NTC flag at the Libyan Embassy in Harare. Mr Elmagrahi wrote to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announcing his defection on Wednesday. He then ordered the pulling down of the Libyan flag, replacing it with that of the rebels. He also witnessed the destruction of President Gaddafi's portraits by Libyans resident in Zimbabwe.

Mr Elmagrahi defended his decision saying he was following the will of the people. "We have a transition. We will follow our friendship with them (Zimbabwe). We will respect all our agreements with them. I represent all Libyans. I follow what they want. When they are like this, I follow them. I follow what they choose," he said.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Magrahi yesterday bemoaned foreign direct intervention saying it had denied constructive direct dialogue between Libyans despite efforts by the African Union.

"H.E the Ambassador Taher A El Magrahi, is obliged to express his profound gratitude to His Excellency, President Robert Gabriel Mugabe and the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe for the pivotal role and spirited effort at the Africa Union Peace and Security Council, aiming at finding a peaceful settlement for the Libyans crisis without foreign interference and African initiated solutions for African problems.

"Unfortunately this did not happen and the gravity of the crisis was compounded by the foreign direct intervention that denied any form of constructive direct dialogue between Libyans," he said.
Ambassador Magrahi said his appointment was done to represent the interests of the Libyan people and to enhance bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and Libya and "not representing the continuously changing political figures".

"The new flag that has been hoisted at the Embassy is the original flag of Libyan independence in 1951. This is the original Libyan flag of the independence of Libya, highly respected by all Libyans and has nothing to do with the changes that have taken place," he said.
Ambassador Magrahi said he would continue to stand by the side of the Libyan people "by representing their interests, freedom of choice and will no matter whatsoever, knowing that the volatility of the protracted Libyan crisis has created a new situation on the ground.

"Any decision taken by anyone regarding the new changes that have taken place requires a high degree of far-sightedness, judiciousness and candidly balanced approach taking into consideration the sensitivities of tormenting consequences of this horrific bloody conflict that has claimed an overwhelming number of victims and painfulness of the devastation caused and continued suffering of ordinary Libyans," Ambassador Magrahi said.