CAIRO, June 20 (UPI) -- It's up to the Libyan people to decide the fate of their country, a representative from the rebel-backed transitional council said from Cairo.
Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi used the accidental bombing of civilians in Tripoli to whip up resentment against NATO forces operating in the country.
Rebel-backed leaders said they've met with Gadhafi representatives and pro-transition officials in Cairo, London's pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat reports.
Abdul Munim al-Huni, a representative of the Libyan Transitional National Council to Egypt and the Arab League, told the newspaper Gadhafi loyalists were trying to broker immunity and an honorable departure for the Libyan leader.
He said, however, that the Libyan people have decided that Gadhafi should step down immediately.
"The Libyan people have had enough of marginalization, impoverishment and corruption on every level throughout the years of Gaddafi's rule," he said. "He must leave to stop Libyan bloodshed."
NATO forces are backing a U.N. mandate for the use of force in Libya. The U.N. Security Council had referred Gadhafi to the international courts for alleged war crimes committed against the Libyan people.
Libyan leaders had reportedly called on the United Nations and European leaders to convince them to halt the air campaign.
