In Istanbul, Davutoglu seeks Libyan truce before Ramadan

A meeting of the Libya Contact Group in Istanbul today could determine the fate of both Libyan Leader Muammer Gadhafi and Syrian President Bashar Assad. Gadhafi's days in power are numbered, said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton before the meeting. Also before the meeting, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu yesterday called for a solution before the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in order not to let the situation in Libya worsen. "If a cease-fire can't be agreed on and air raids continue during Ramadan, that would only be a gift to Muammer Gadhafi," he told reporters. Ramadan starts in about two weeks, on Aug. 1. Turkey's road map for a solution to the crisis includes declaring a cease-fire, meeting the basic needs of Libyan civilians in war-torn cities, and finding an exit strategy for Gadhafi to leave power. Some 40 countries and international organizations are said to be represented at the meeting, but China and Russia refused Turkey's invitation to attend. Russia has criticized the NATO-led strikes in Libya, while China has maintained a policy of non-interference in the ongoing conflict.