Ban frustrated at "absolute lack of progress" to find political solution to Libya

 UNITED NATIONS, Aug 11 (KUNA) -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon late Wednesday spoke by phone with Libya's Prime Minister Baghdadi al-Mahmudi to express his frustration at the "absolute lack of progress" in finding a political solution to the Libyan crisis, his press office said in a statement.
"The Secretary-General told the Prime Minister he was very troubled that there had been an absolute lack of progress in the efforts to find a politically negotiated solution to the crisis in Libya, despite the efforts of his Special Envoy (abdul Elah Al-Khatib)," the statement said.
He said all sides "must commit to a political process" and urged the Prime Minister to "respond constructively to the Special Envoy's ideas on this topic.
" Al-Khatib proposed recently to the Security Council simultaneously establishing a credible ceasefire and creating an institutional mechanism for the management of the transition.
Ban also denied a Libyan media report that he would invite the Security Council to convene a special session on Libya.
He recalled that the Security Council was recently briefed on Libya and that Member States had reiterated "shared concerns about the continuing loss of life and destruction of infrastructure." Ban also expressed concern about the loss of innocent civilian lives as a result of the fighting and the lack of medical supplies and fuel, which added greater urgency to the need to address the humanitarian needs of the Libyan people.
Libyan Rebels have been trying since February to oust Colonel Gaddafi from power after ruling Libya with an iron fist for over four decades.(end) sj.asa KUNA 111126 Aug 11NNNN