NATO dismisses Gaddafi's offer of truce

Brussels, 30 Apr – (ANA) - NATO has dismissed an offer from Muammar Gaddafi  for a ceasefire and negotiations, saying Western air strikes on government forces in Libya will continue as long as civilians are threatened.

"We need to see actions, not words," a NATO official told Reuters.

"NATO will continue operations until all attacks and threats against civilians have ceased, until all of Gaddafi's forces have returned to base and until there is a full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all people in need of assistance," he said.

The military alliance, fulfilling a United Nations mandate to protect civilians during a bloody crackdown on an anti-government rebellion in Libya, has in the past rejected Gaddafi's calls for truce.

"The regime has announced ceasefires several times before and continued attacking cities and civilians ... Any ceasefire must be credible and verifiable," the NATO official said.

He declined to comment whether NATO would be open to meeting Gaddafi's representatives for talks, if contacts for such talks were made.

Gaddafi said earlier in the day he was ready for negotiations provided NATO "stops its planes" but refused to step down, which Western powers see as a precondition to peace in Libya. (ANA)

FA/ANA/30 April 2011------