World to Gadhafi: Surrender

ROME, Italy — World leaders say the end is near for the regime of Moammar Gadhafi and are calling on the Libyan leader to relinquish power, after rebels took control of most of the Libyan capital.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said “the only path Gadhafi must take is that of surrender.”

Embattled leader Moamer Gadhafi’s regime controls no more than 10-15 percent of Tripoli, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said Monday, after heavy fighting in the Libyan capital.

“We have seen opposition to the regime advance further over the last hours and we can say that at the present time no more than 10 to 15 percent of the town is still in the hands of the regime,” he told SKY TG 24 television.

British Prime Minister David Cameron cut short a vacation to chair a meeting Monday of the country’s special security committee on Libya. His office said Sunday that it was clear “the end is near for Gadhafi,” and called on him to “go now to avoid any further suffering for his own people.”

In Denmark, Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen said “the Libyan people’s struggle for freedom has gone into the playoffs.”

The three countries are all part of the NATO-led mission in Libya.

Likewise, the European Union said that the end of the Gadhafi regime in Libya is near and he must relinquish all power to avoid further bloodshed.

“We seem to be witnessing the end of the Gadhafi regime,” Michael Mann said, spokesman for EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said Monday. “Gadhafi has to relinquish power now and avoid further bloodshed.”

Meanwhile, China said Monday it “respects the Libyan people’s choice” after rebels in the war-torn North African country entered the capital Tripoli and threatened to topple its leader Moamer Gadhafi.

China’s foreign ministry also said it hoped stability would return to the country rapidly, as heavy fighting raged near Gadhafi’s compound and the United States said his regime was at a “tipping point”.