Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi (file photo)The US administration has promised to secure a safe haven for embattled Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi if he agrees to step down and hand power over to the opposition.
A US delegation that has met with Libyan officials has reportedly offered Gaddafi guarantees that he will not be prosecuted if he relinquishes power, said a Libyan official, Asharq al-Awsat reported on Wednesday.
The unidentified official, described as “close” to the negotiations with the US, said, "The US delegation expressed clear readiness to go ahead and find a place or a country prepared to host Gaddafi, along with offering him guarantees that he will not be tracked down for prosecution.”
According to the newspaper, the talks were held Saturday in Tunisia and were attended by Bashir Saleh, the director of Gaddafi's office.
Gaddafi announced on Tuesday that he would continue fighting against NATO and Libyan opposition, vowing to retake the lost areas from anti-regime forces.
Tripoli and some western provinces remain under Gaddafi's control while the revolutionaries hold Benghazi, most of the east and several western cities.
France has similarly said that Gaddafi can stay in Libya if he quits power, pointing out that a truce deal can only be struck if the Libyan ruler makes a formal commitment to give up his civil and military responsibilities.
The African nation has been the scene of intense fighting between regime troops and revolutionary forces since mid-February. The revolutionary forces seek an end to Gaddafi's decades-long rule.
The conflict has left thousands of people dead and wounded.
The US and NATO forces unleashed a punishing, UN-mandated aerial bombardment of Libya in March to pressure Gaddafi to abandon power.
The military alliance has admitted that its forces have killed and wounded scores of civilians in the ongoing aerial attacks on key Libyan cities.
