A senior Libyan official, Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim, said Monday that progress had been made in talks with rebels on ending more than four months of fighting, but a top rebel leader denied that any negotiations are taking place.
The rebel leader, Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, distanced himself from earlier comments attributed to him that the opposition might consider allowing Libyan leader Moammar Khadafy to stay in the country as part of a transition deal, provided he resigns and orders a cease-fire.
“The Libyans do not want Khadafy to stay even if he’s dead . . . after what he’s done while in power and during the revolt against him,” Abdul-Jalil said Monday.
Several bomb blasts shook the capital Monday afternoon as coalition warplanes roared overhead.
Also on Monday, Libyan officials said they intercepted two boats loaded with weapons from Qatar that were intended for the rebels.
