South Africa’s president Jacob Zuma informed after peace talks that Muammar Gaddafi wants truce but gave no info whether the Libyan leader was ready to give up power.

Muammar Gaddafi made a rare public appearance after Nato operation for the meeting with the South African leader Zuma in his second attempt to interpose a ceasefire on behalf of the African Union.

Libya’s leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has turned into a fugitive in his own capital during the advancing Nato air strikes, welcomed South Africa’s president Jacob Zuma inside the presidential compound in Tripoli. He appearance showed he is healthy, it was speculated he had been injured in the air strike that killed his son Saif al-Arab earlier the this month. Muammar Gaddafi has shown visiting president Zuma the site of that attack.

Zuma stated later Colonel Gaddafi was ready to implement the road map, a reference to the peace plan of African Union involving a truce and agreement on humanitarian supplies and reforms. The plan has already been rejected by the Benghazi-based rebels, and by Nato. Senior officials also defect regime being ready for truce.

Jakob Zuma : Libya will determine its own fate, Muammar Gaddafi remains

Zuma said Gaddafi had insisted that “all Libyans be given an oppurtunity to talk among themselves” to determine the future fate of the country, but he didn’t mention the Libyan leader’s possible exit. His office denied rebel claims that the South African president had raised the subject.

The rebels’ morale was boosted by the dramatic abandonment of eight senior Libyan officials. Five generals, two colonels and a major told in a news conference in Rome, an organisation by the Italian government, that they were among 120 to have abandoned Gaddafi in the last week.

The officers said they had defected in protest at Gaddafi’s actions against his own people, citing killings of civilians and violence against women. One of the eight accused pro-Gaddafi forces of genocide. They claimed Gaddafi’s campaign against the rebels was rapidly weakening.

On Saturday morning, NATO planes hit a camp occupied by pro-Gaddafi forces and attacked Bani Walid, a town with vital strategic importance as the main stronghold of the powerful Warfalla clan, whose tribal leaders reached an agreement with anti-Gaddafi insurgents.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi met with South African President Jacob Zuma on Monday to talk of an armistice initiative, marking 100 days since the anti-regime revolt began and NATO intensified the operation and air raids.

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