France's foreign minister, Alain Juppe, says Paris has had contact with emissaries of Moammar Gaddafi who say the Libyan leader is prepared to step down.

It is not immediately clear if the offer is credible or whether it amounts to a potential breakthrough in the Libyan crisis. In public statements up until now, Gaddafi has refused to leave or give up power. Juppe admits that the contacts do not constitute proper negotiations, but France has long insisted that Gaddafi giving up power is key to ending the hostilities.