South Africa urges Libya's NTC to begin national unity process

South African government on Thursday said it noted the latest developments in Sirte, Libya that culminated in the death of the former Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi and emphasized that lasting and sustainable peaceful solution is possible. "The South African government wishes to reiterate its view that a lasting and sustainable peaceful solution is possible through an all inclusive political process that will culminate in the holding of the first ever democratic elections in accordance with the roadmap as announced by the National Transitional Council (NTC) of Libya," South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRC) spokesperson Clayson Monyela said in a statement issued after news about Gaddafi's death. He said Pretoria hopes that the latest events will lead to a cessation of hostilities and the restoration of peace. "We urge the NTC to begin in earnest the process of building national unity and reconciliation as well as the disarmament of all combatants and their reintegration into society, " Monyela said. The government official said South African remains committed to working together with the African Union, the United Nations, the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Conference to ensure coordinated support to the NTC and the Libyan people in general in their endeavors to reconstruct their country and to bring about democratic, political and socio-economic changes.