Libyan officials, rebels hold talks in Tunisia

southern Tunisia, a source with direct knowledge of the talks told Reuters.
There was no immediate confirmation that any talks were taking place from the government in Tripoli or the rebel movement.
The talks were being conducted behind closed doors at a hotel on the Tunisian island of Djerba near the border with Libya, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. He did not identify any of those involved in the negotiations.
“Representatives of the rebels and Gaddafi representatives are having a meeting now,” said the source.
Meanwhile, A UN special envoy trying to find a way to end the conflict in Libya arrived in neighbouring Tunisia for talks, the Tunisian Foreign Ministry said ysterday.
“Ban Ki-moon’s envoy for Libya, (Abdel Elah) al-Khatib has arrived in Tunisia,” said a ministry spokesman.
“Tomorrow he will meet the (Tunisian) foreign minister and after that we don’t know but certainly he will meet the Libyan parties.”
Khatib, a former Jordanian foreign minister, was appointed in March by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The envoy has met on several occasions with representatives of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and the rebels demanding an end to Gaddafi’s 41-year rule.
He has so far been unable to persuade the sides to adopt his ceasefire plan.
His visit to the region was his first since rebel advances cut Tripoli off from its supply route to Tunisia at the weekend, potentially shifting the momentum in the rebels’ favour.
That development was followed by unconfirmed reports of new talks between the rebels and Gaddafi’s government.
A government spokesman in Tripoli said there were no talks on Gaddafi stepping down. – Reuters.