Grand Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, head of Al-Azhar, the highest-ranking religious institution in the Sunni Muslim world, met on Tuesday with a delegation of Libyan religious scholars in an effort to bring an end to the crisis in Libya, which has been continuing since February.
The brutal repression of peaceful protests by Colonel Muammar Qadhafi’s regime since 17 February prompted the international community to intervene in order to stop the killing of civilians.
On 19 March, an international military alliance began implementing a United Nations Security Council resolution imposing an air embargo on Libya and a military campaign to reduce the ability of Qadhafi's troops to attack those calling for a change of regime.
Al-Tayeb called for the creation of a council of elders comprised of Libyan scholars and thinkers to develop optimal solutions that enable the Libyan people to freely choose their own leaders.
He also invited the conflicting parties to meet at Al-Azhar in order to reach agreement on an immediate cease fire, suggesting that the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference should attend that meeting.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
