The Libyan government has had meetings in foreign capitals with representatives of the country’s opposition to try to negotiate a peace deal, a spokesman for Muammar Gaddafi’s administration said on Monday. 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 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. The statement said one of the meetings was in Rome between Libyan government officials and Abdel Fattah Younes al Abidi, Gaddafi’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. Asked to confirm that a meeting had taken place in Rome witnessed by Italian officials, an Italian foreign ministry spokesman said: “There hasn’t been any (meeting) and we have not participated in any meeting.”
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.
