British Prime Minister David Cameron and President Jacob Zuma have agreed that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi must go.
Cameron, who is on a working visit to South Africa, told reporters in Pretoria on Monday that he and Zuma believed Gaddafi needed to step down from power.
“It is no secret that we have disagreed on some aspects of how to respond to violence in Libya. We agree on the ultimate destination that Gadaffi must step aside to allow the people of Libya to decide their own future in a democratic and united way.”
Cameron however said both men agreed peace was needed in Libya, and that Gaddafi needed to stop his attacks on his own citizens.
“We share the same strategic vision. We believe that people's legitimate aspirations for a job and a voice must be met with reform and openness, not with repression and violence,” said Cameron.
However, Zuma said : “What happens to Gaddafi must be decided by the Libyan people. You need to negotiate how, why and where he must go.”
He said the manner of Gaddafi's departure was the critical difference between the United Kingdom and South Africa. The AU did not support military intervention.
Cameron said he thanked Zuma for his support for the UN resolutions on Libya.
He also thanked Zuma for his leadership in the AU.
The situation in Zimbabwe had also been discussed, Cameron said. However, more details of those discussions were not revealed.
Cameron said they had earlier discussed bilateral trade issues between the two countries.
He said that trade between the two countries was worth nine billion pounds (R100 billion) a year and that British exports to South Africa in the first four months of 2011 were up 50 percent over the previous year.
At the press conference, Cameron was questioned by British media over the wisdom of making the trip to Africa in the wake of a phone hacking scandal that on Monday saw the head of the London Metropolitan police resigning from his position.
Cameron said that decisive action had been taken to set up a proper judicial inquiry and ensure that there was a proper and well resourced police investigation underway.
“Just because you are travelling to Africa, it doesn't mean that you suddenly lose contact with your office,” he said.
British media were allowed to ask two questions, while only the SA Broadcasting Corporation among South African media was allowed to put a question. - Sapa