[Asharq al-Aswat] Arab and western diplomatic sources have informed Asharq Al-Awsat that secret communications have been taking place with the Libyan government which aim to convince Libyan  leader Colonel Qadaffy to step down from power. In addition to this, an official close to Colonel Qadaffy has denied that the Libyan leader has put forward any political deal to the opposition National Transitional Council -- led by former Libyan Justice Minister Mustafa Abdul Jalil -- agreeing to step down from power in return for the rebels guaranteeing him safe passage outside of the country, as well as legal immunity for any crimes he may have committed during his 42 year reign.
The Libyan official, who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat from Tripoli yesterday, said that the only deal that the Qadaffy regime had put forward to the National Transitional Council was a deal formulating national reconciliation and which aimed to stop the bloodshed in the country. As for the issue of Qadaffy stepping down from power, the Libyan official said that this is not up for discussion with any party, internally or externally. The official told Asharq Al-Awsat "let me reiterate what has been said before, Colonel Qadaffy is not a president or a traditional ruler that can step down or be removed from power, he [Qadaffy] previously said that if he were a president he would have thrown his resignation in the face of those who are calling for this."
The Libyan official also stressed that Colonel Qadaffy is not looking for a safe haven outside of Libya or a safe means of leaving the country, adding that Qadaffy will continue to remain in his position as the leader of the revolution.
In a recent interview conducted by Al-Saadi Qadaffy with an Arab satellite television channel, he accused his brother Saif al-Islam Qadaffy of failing to implement reforms ordered by their father. However the Libyan official told Asharq Al-Awsat that al-Saadi Qadaffy's statements had been taken out of context, adding that "this is part of an attempt to drive a wedge between the Qadaffy children and senior aides, but let me confirm to you that these accusations are not true." The Libyan official refused to comment about the reported gunfire heard coming from within the Bab al-Azizah stronghold in Tripoli last week, and rumors that this was part of a stand-off between Qadaffy's children.
A division within the Libyan National Transitional Council and its leader has also emerged. This council, which was initially established in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, was formed to govern the Libyan areas liberated from Qadaffy control, and is made up of a number of senior former Qadaffy regime figures, including its leader former Justice Minister Mustafa Abdul Jalil, as well as former Libyan representative to the vaporous Arab League Abdul-Monem al-Houni. Asharq Al-Awsat learnt that Jalil wants to give Qadaffy a 72-hour deadline to step down from power in return for legal immunity regarding the recent bloodshed in Libya, whilst other members within the Libyan opposition oppose such a deal and want to see Qadaffy nabbed and tried for crimes against humanity.
Tripoli has denied that Qadaffy has received any offers from the National Transitional Council and has scoffed at the idea of Qadaffy relinquishing power that he does not in fact possess. In response to this, senior member of the National Transitional Council Abdul-Monem al-Houni, told Asharq Al-Awsat "if Qadaffy, as he claims, is not serving as the legitimate president of the country, then the question that must be asked is: in what capacity does he hold the powers of a state president and order the killing of Libyan citizens?" 
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