The DA has called on President Jacob Zuma to clarify whether he did indeed speak to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi over the telephone, as the BBC was reporting.
“The Democratic Alliance notes with concern reports in the international press of a telephone conversation between President (Jacob) Zuma and Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi,” the DA's parliamentary leader Athol Trollip said in a statement.
He said BBC Monitoring was reporting that Libyan TV had quoted Zuma as “stressing the need not to depend on tendentious reports circulated by foreign media outlets” during the phone call.
Zuma reportedly also called on the African Union to “take decisive action and uncover the conspiracy that Libya is facing”.
Trollip said the presidency needed to clarify whether a phone conversation did take place, and whether Zuma made the comments attributed to him.
“Libyan TV has been known to make a variety of statements for the purposes of propaganda, so it is important that the presidency issues a statement immediately.”
Trollip said Zuma's “close” relationship with Gaddafi had been a cause for concern previously.
He said after Zuma's arrest on rape charges in 2006, media reports suggested Gaddafi provided Zuma with financial support to contest the allegations.
“In light of this, there is a particularly urgent need for clarity, and for the president to disassociate himself from the contents of these reports.”
Zuma's spokesperson Zizi Kodwa could not be reached for comment. -
Sapa