“The continuing bombing by NATO and its allies is a concern that has been raised by our committee and by the AU Assembly, because the intention of Resolution 1973 was to protect the Libyan people and facilitate the humanitarian effort,” Zuma said.

“The intention was not to authorise a campaign for regime change or political assassination,” he said in opening talks of the African Union panel on Libya, according to a text of the speech provided to AFP.

“On the ground, there is a military stalemate which cannot and must not be allowed to drag on and on — both because of its horrendous cost in civilian lives and the potential it has to destabilise the entire sub-region,” he said.

“The people of Africa want to see an immediate end to the conflict in Libya and the beginning of the process towards a democratic dispensation there,” he said.

Zuma urged both Kadhafi and the rebel’s Transitional National Council (TNC) to make compromises to reach a deal.

“The solution in Libya has to be political and lies in the hands of the Libyan people. Our Libyan brothers and sisters — those in authority and those in the TNC — have to act boldly and show leadership,” he said.