President Jacob Zuma will travel to Libya on Sunday for a meeting with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said on Friday.

Zuma will participate in the meeting in his capacity as a member of the African Union ad hoc high level committee on Libya.

“The committee has been granted permission by Nato to enter Libya and to meet in Tripoli with the Libyan leader, HE Muammar Gaddafi,” the department said.

“The AU delegation will also meet with the interim transitional national council in Benghazi on 10 and 11 April 2011.”

Zuma will be accompanied by State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele.

Zuma will take also part in an AU meeting on Libya in Nouakchott, Mauritania on Saturday.

“President Zuma will participate in the meeting in his capacity as a member of the African Union ad hoc high level committee on Libya which has been mandated by the African Union peace and security council to engage the opposing parties in Libya in order to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the current conflict in accordance with the will of the Libyan people.”

The AU committee comprises the heads of state of Mauritania, Congo Republic, Mali, Uganda and South Africa.

“It is anticipated that the committee will hold discussions on the recent developments in Libya and deliberate on the way forward in fulfilling its mandate.”

Zuma is expected to return to South Africa April 12 2011. – Sapa