London, July 11 (ANI): NATO will stop their bombardment of Libya as soon as embattled leader Colonel Gaddafi's loyalists and rebels sit round a table and begin direct negotiations, French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet said.
The Telegraph quoted Longuet, as saying that NATO would stop their bombardment as soon as the Libyans speak to each to other.
"We have asked them to speak to each other," said Longuet, whose government has until now been among the most aggressive on Libya.
"The position of the TNC (rebel Transitional National Council) is very far from other positions. Now, there will be a need to sit around a table," he said.
"We (NATO) will stop the bombardment as soon as Libyans speak to each other and the military from both sides go back to their barracks. They can now speak to each other because we are showing them that there is no solution with force," he added.
Longuet also appeared to leave the door open for Gaddafi to remain in Libya.
When asked whether it was possible to hold talks if Gaddafi had not stepped down he said, "he will be in another room in his palace, with another title."
In response to Longuet's comments, the US State Department reiterated that Gaddafi must go. The Foreign Office also supported this stance. (ANI)
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