Imam Mohamed El Sadi, the Muslim leader in Malta, said the Libyan people had the authority to choose the leadership of their country without involving foreign military forces.

“The Libyan people have the authority to choose everything, including the leadership and policies of Libya, and everybody should submit to that,” Mr El Sadi said.

He called on the Libyan leadership and the opposition to take “courageous historical decisions” by putting national interest before personal pride.

Speaking publicly for the first time about the Libya uprising, Mr El Sadi urged the Libyan leadership and the opposition to stop fighting immediately and work towards peace through mediation.

“There should be sincere and fair mediation and negotiations between the two sides by wise, Libyan or foreign personalities to find a peaceful way out,” Mr El Sadi said.

No one had expected the “bloody armed fight” between Libyans but there still was a chance to solve the tragic crisis peacefully. However, for “peace to be given a chance”, the problems had to be solved internally – without any foreign military intervention.

“This will worsen and complicate the situation and impose more fighting on the Libyans to liberate their country. Foreign military assistance is not free of charge,” he said.

Instead, “concessions” and “sacrifices” had to be made to safeguard people’s lives and wealth. The common good should be above anybody and the will of the Libyan people should prevail, Mr El Sadi said.

Also, it was a pity that the tragic events, which caused him great “heartfelt pain and sadness”, undermined the many achievements of the Libyan people.

He expressed the local Muslim community’s “great thanks and gratitude” to the Maltese government and people for their hospitality, solidarity and generosity for helping the Libyan people “at this hour of important humanitarian need”.

Mr El Sadi said he prayed for all the families involved and also so that the leaders and Libyan people would have the wisdom to make the right decisions to save the country.

“Our thoughts and hearts are with the Maltese workers and businessmen who lost their jobs and businesses in Libya because of these tragic events. May God provide them better chances and generous providence,” Mr El Sadi said.