Clueless South Africa seeks immediate cease-fire in Libya

The South African government, which voted in favour of a no-fly zone in Libya, was at pains to explain its position on the matter as bombs continued raining on Colonel Muammar Gadaffi's army.
Clayson Monyela, spokesman for the Department of International Relations and Co-operation, said while South Africa supported the United Nations Security Council Resolution which authorised the coalition air-strikes on Gadaffi's army, it rejected "regime change" and "foreign occupation of Libya" and is calling for an immediate cease-fire between the warring factions.
"There is no confusion there, what we are saying in rejecting [regime change] is we don't think it's an issue for outsiders to decide on what happens in a sovereign country," he said.
Nato has now taken full control of the military operation while the US - which initially led the air-strikes - takes a back seat. President Barack Obama, secretary of state Hillary Clinton and key US officials have rejected sending in ground troops to support the ill-equipped and unorganised rebels who are engaged in running battles with Gadaffi's troops.
The US, which is still entangled in two conflicts in the Middle East, is wary of the high costs of a ground mission and the amount of time it might take to oust Gadaffi.
But the possibility of arming rebels has not been ruled out by Washington, although this has been dismissed by Nato leaders.
Monyela said South Africa would not support the arming of Libyan rebels.