The UN special envoy for Libya, Abdul Ilah Al-Khatib, met in Tripoli with Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi in a renewed effort to work out a political solution to the crisis, the UN said, dpa reported.
Al-Khatib, a former foreign minister of Jordan, urged Libyan authorities loyal to Moammer Gaddafi to "engage in a political process leading to a political solution that meets the legitimate demands and aspirations of the Libyan people," the UN said.
"The prime minister reiterated previously stated positions with respect to NATO bombing and against Colonel Gaddadi stepping down," the UN said. Tripoli has insisted that NATO stop its bombing campaign and Gaddafi has so far refused to step down.
Al-Khatib met with rebel representatives in Benghazi on Monday to push for a political solution. But the UN reported that the envoy had said that both the Libyan Transitional National Council, the recognized rebel group, and Tripoli have remained far apart in their positions even though they want to continue discussion under UN mediation.