Gadhafi Son: France 'in Talks' With Dad

Moammar Gadhafi’s regime is in talks with France, or so says one of Gadhafi’s sons in a newspaper interview. “The truth is that we are negotiating with France and not with the rebels,” Seif al-Islam told an Algerian paper. But France rejects the claim, al-Jazeera reports. “We pass (the Libyan regime) messages in liaison” with the opposition, said a government spokesman. “These messages are simple and without ambiguity: Any political solution must begin with Gadhafi's withdrawal from power and abandonment of any political role.”

According to Seif al-Islam, “France said: 'When we reach an agreement with (Tripoli), we will force the (rebel) council to cease fire'.” Libya’s opposition Transitional National Council says Gadhafi’s son is bluffing in order to weaken the rebels’ ties to France. But France’s defense minister yesterday said the TNC should begin negotiating with Gadhafi’s regime without waiting for its defeat, Reuters reports. “The position of the TNC is very far from other positions. Now, there will be a need to sit around a table,” the official said. (More Saif al-Islam Gadhafi stories.)