Libyan rebels say will end fighting if Kadhafi quits

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MALABO: Libyan rebels said Friday they were prepared to end their conflict with Moamer Kadhafi through military means but would stop hostilities if the long-time leader quit power.

"If we see that Kadhafi withdraws, we are ready to stop (the hostilities) and negotiate with our brothers who are around Kadhafi," National Transitional Council representative Mansour Safy Al-Nasr said as African leaders discussed the conflict.

But the rebels would not retreat, "not this time", he said on the sidelines of the African Union summit in the Equatorial Guinea capital, without excluding that the forces would take the capital Tripoli.

"If military operations advance to surround Tripoli, he will accept (to leave). Kadhafi is isolated. He is in his bunker. He cannot move, he does not have a life," Al-Nasr said.

"The troops are advancing," he said.

Asked if he thought the conflict would be ended through a political or a military means, he said: "We are ready for anything."

Al-Nasr also dismissed an African Union statement last week that Kadhafi had agreed to keep out of negotiations. "He never said it," he said.

An African Union panel mediating in the Libyan conflict is proposing a roadmap out of the fighting that would include a ceasefire, humanitarian aid, transition period, reforms towards democracy and elections.

The five-leader panel presented the plan to counterparts at closed door talks on the first day of their summit Thursday but the meeting ended in the early hours of Friday morning with no consensus.

The talks were to resume at 10:00 am (0900 GMT).

Some officials say pre-conditions that Kadhafi should quit for a political solution to be reached should be brought to the negotiating table. (AFP)