SYDNEY: Australia on Monday urged Libyan leader Moamer Qadhafi to "get out of the way" of the rebellion sweeping his country and said the forces fighting his regime appeared to be on the cusp of a victory.
"Events are moving very, very quickly but it obviously appears that the rebels are in Tripoli, that the rebels are about to secure Libya overall," Prime Minister Julia Gillard told reporters.
"Obviously the task is not yet done but from what we've seen on our TV screens that appears to be what will happen."
"We continue to call on Colonel Qadhafi to get out of the way, and of course we believe that he should face the international charges that are against him," she added, referring to UN accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by government forces.
Gillard said Australia would "as a nation continue to support the people of Libya on what we want to see as a journey to peace and democracy".
Australia recognised the National Transitional Council as the legitimate representatives of the Libyan people in June.
Acting Foreign Minister Craig Emerson told AFP the situation was reaching a "critical stage" with rebel forces making important advances.
"The situation is fast moving and it is difficult to verify events of the ground but it appears that the end is near for the Qadhafi regime," Emerson said.
"For the sake of civilians in Tripoli, Qadhafi should step down now to avoid prolonged fighting in Libya's capital that will result in the deaths of innocent Libyan citizens."
Emerson said the foreign office was "unaware" of any Australians in Libya following a travel ban imposed in February, but urged any citizens still there to leave "by any safe means as soon as possible".
Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011
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