Baghdadi Mahmudi, the Libyan prime minister, reiterated on Tuesday that the departure of Moammar Gaddafi was "not up for discussion," after meeting UN special envoy to Libya Abdul Ilah al-Khatib.
"The departure from power of Colonel Gaddafi is not up for discussion," he told a news conference after British Foreign Secretary William Hague demanded on Monday that Kadhafi step down but said he might be allowed to stay in the country.
"With all due respect to the British foreign minister, it is not up to him to take decisions on behalf of the Libyan people," Mahmudi said.
The Libyan premier also repeated that the government was ready for a ceasefire and negotiations on the country's future, on the condition that the Nato bombing campaign stops.
"Without a ceasefire there is no way to reach a solution. The most important thing is that this aggression stops, and that the Libyan people can take decisions," he said.
Mahmudi said he discussed with Khatib implementation of UN Resolutions 1970 and 1973, particularly concerning a ceasefire and opening humanitarian corridors, and "violations" by Nato of the two resolutions.
Khatib, who visited the rebel stronghold of Benghazi in the east on Monday, did not speak to reporters.