Inside Story: Libya's peace pleas not enough

After more than a month of fighting, Muammar Gaddafi the Libyan Leader has once again renewed diplomatic efforts seeking an end to the crisis.

On Sunday, Abdel Ati Obeidi, Libya's deputy foreign minister landed in Athens, carrying a message to the Prime Minister from Gaddafi.

Gaddafi's message: to seek an end to the fighting.

This was followed by a trip to Turkey and then to Malta.

The Greek foreign minister said his country wants to reinforce the demands of the UN resolution.

Also Franco Frattini, Italy's Foreign Minister dismissed Al Obeidi's message from Gaddafi as "not credible", reiterating that Gaddafi had to leave power. At the same time, Italy recognised the Libyan Opposition National Council as the only legitimate authority in the country.

But Libyan opposition are still refusing any kind of settlement saying they will accept a UN-demanded ceasefire only if Gaddafi pulls his forces from all Libyan cities.

Inside Story, with presenter Dareen Abughaida, discusses with guests: Ashur Shamis, a Libyan journalist and writer; Dimitris Papadimitriou, a reader in European Politics at the University of Manchester and Claire Spencer, head of Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House.

This episode of Inside Story aired from Monday, April 4, 2011.