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Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Ex- U.S. Congressman Weldon says he will meet with Gadhafi

into submission," Curt Weldon wrote in the opinion piece. STORY HIGHLIGHTSCurt Weldon's proposals include a cease-fire on both sides and a joint interim governmentWeldon: "It will be very hard to simply bomb him into submission"He led a congressional delegation to Tripoli in 2004 and met privately with Gadhafi Tripoli, Libya (CNN) -- Former U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon said he is set to meet with Moammar Gadhafi on Wednesday in an attempt to persuade Libya's embattled ruler to step down.

Weldon will also meet Wednesday with Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khalid Khaim, the Republican from Pennsylvania told CNN on Wednesday.

In an opinion piece written for The New York Times, Weldon said, "I've met (Gadhafi) enough times to know that it will be very hard to simply bomb him into submission." He said he was in Libya at the invitation of Gadhafi and that U.S. President Barack Obama's administration is aware of the trip.

Weldon told CNN that in addition to Gadhafi stepping down, he is proposing a cease-fire on both sides; a withdrawal of government forces from key cities; no further advances by rebel forces; a joint interim government run by Libya's current prime minister and the an opposition leader; unfettered humanitarian access; and the establishment of a parliamentary commission that would include American, Middle Eastern, European and African politicians helping to establish a new parliament in Libya.

As for as the Gadhafi family, Weldon's proposals also suggest a possible title for Gadhafi as honorary chairman of the African Union and allowing his second-oldest son, Saif, to stand in elections.

Saif al-Islam Gadhafi was once thought of as a leading reformer in the Libyan government, but the 38-year-old has become one of his father's most outspoken defenders since the start of the unrest.



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