The Libyan government has had meetings in foreign capitals with representatives of the rebel opposition to try to negotiate a peace deal, a spokesman for Muammar Gadafy's administration said today.
The spokesman, Moussa Ibrahim, said in an emailed statement that meetings had taken place in Italy, Egypt and Norway and were witnessed by representatives of those countries' governments. He said talks were still going on.
It was not immediately clear whether the talks took place with the knowledge or endorsement of the rebel National Transitional Council. Most Western countries say the council is the Libyan people's sole legitimate representative.
The statement said one of the meetings was in Rome between Libyan government officials and Abdel Fattah Younes al Abidi, Col Gadafy's former security minister who defected to the rebel side in February.
"In the last few weeks and in several world capitals, high-ranking Libyan government officials have met with members of the Libyan opposition to negotiate peaceful ways out of the Libyan crisis," the statement said. "Other direct negotiations still take place as of now."
Libyan officials have previously said they are in negotiations with the opposition but this is the first time they have given
details on which figures they were talking to.
Elsewhere, Al Arabiya television reported Libya's rebel council had said Col Gadafy has "no chance" of staying in the north African nation.
Agencies