20110705
Reuters
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libya's government is not negotiating about Muammar Gaddafi giving up power, a government spokesman told Reuters on Tuesday.

"Information about negotiations about Gaddafi stepping down or seeking a safe refuge inside or outside the country are simply untrue," said spokesman Moussa Ibrahim.

"Gaddafi is not negotiable, this is our position of principle, and the future of Libya will be decided by Libyans. Gaddafi is a historical symbol, and Libyans will die to defend him," said Ibrahim.

"The talks were about a ceasefire, humanitarian aid, and the start of a dialogue between Libyans, and then the fourth stage which is a transition period over the political change that will be decided by Libyans," he said.

The Libyan government said on Monday it had held talks in Italy, Egypt and Norway with senior figures in the Libyan opposition about finding a peaceful way out of the country's five-month-old conflict.

It said government representatives from each of the countries where the negotiations took place had witnessed them. However, the Italian government denied any such talks had been held on its soil.

"Regarding the denial from Italy about a meeting held in Rome between the Libyan government and members of the rebellion, this is not true," said Ibrahim.

"There have been several meetings in Rome and these are genuine talks and a member of the Italian government attended the meetings."