African Union plan to halt Libya civil war founders

AN African plan to halt Libya’s civil war quickly foundered when fighting raged for the besieged city of Misrata and NATO refused to suspend its air campaign.

South Africa’s Jacob Zuma, leading a delegation of five African presidents, announced early yesterday that Muammar Gaddafi had accepted the initiative, including a ceasefire, but it looked dead in the water a few hours later as Gaddafi’s forces bombarded Misrata.

Western leaders expressed scepticism and said Gaddafi must step down, while NATO said its air strikes against government armour would continue as long as he targeted civilians.