Rebels Reject Talks, Demand Gadhafi Quits Libya

Rebels said Tuesday they rejected a mediator's offer of talks with Moammar Gadhafi and demanded that he leaves the country, while the strongman's regime dismissed as "rubbish" any suggestion of an approach from the Libyan leader.

Although it was unclear whether the issue was raised of immunity for the man who has ruled Libya with an iron fist for four decades, the head of the rebels' provisional national council told Agence France Presse they would not pursue criminal charges if Gadhafi quits.

Asked about a Gadhafi representative making an offer of talks, former justice minister Mustafa Abdel Jalil said the Libyan ruler had not sent anyone himself, but that activist lawyers from Tripoli had volunteered as go-betweens.

"He didn't send anyone. People put themselves forth as intermediaries to stop the flow of blood and to end what the people in (Libya's third city of) Misrata are being subjected to," Jalil told AFP by telephone.

"These people are activist lawyers from Tripoli," said Jalil, in reference to the reports of a Gadhafi intermediary approaching the council.

"We are of course with ending the bloodshed, but first he has to resign and then he has to leave and then we won't pursue him criminally," he added.

Rebel representatives had earlier told AFP that an approach had been made to the rebels on behalf of Gadhafi, but insisted there would be no negotiations.

"I think there was an attempt from Gadhafi's people with the provisional national council. It has been rejected," said Mustafa Gheriani, a media organizer at the rebels' main headquarters at the court house in Benghazi.

"We're not going to negotiate with him. He knows where the airport is in Tripoli and all he needs to do is leave and stop the bloodshed."

"Why would you discuss any offers with this guy? He knows what the rules are and he has to leave and stop the bloodshed," said Gheriani.

A Libyan government official, reached in Tripoli and speaking on condition of anonymity, strongly denied that the regime had made an offer of peace talks with Libyan rebel leaders.

"It's rubbish. It's very annoying to comment on such bull," the official said.