What to do about the Gaddafi family?

The Al-Jazeera live blog has a fascinating report that the Gaddafi’s daughter Ayesha has unsuccessfully attempt to leave Libya for Malta, the Maltese refused her plane permission to land. There are also reports that a Libyan plane that wanted to land in Beirut contained one of Gaddafi’s daughters-in-law.

The question raised by this is whether it is a sign that the family is splitting or just an attempt to get various members out before the violence becomes even worse.

Unpalatable as it is, one option that should be explored is whether Gaddafi might step down in exchange for asylum for him and his family somewhere. Persuading him that there is a better option than the martyrdom he was talking about yesterday is one way of preventing mass blood-shed. Obviously, in an ideal world, Gaddafi would stand trial for his crimes. But we are dealing with a least worst option situation.