Libya's prime minister says the government is ready for a cease-fire with rebels fighting to oust Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.
Prime Minister Al-Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi announced the truce offer Thursday, but ruled out the departure of Gadhafi - a key demand of the rebels and NATO, which is conducting airstrikes against government forces.
White House Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes says Washington believes Gadhafi's repeated cease-fire offers in recent months are "not credible" unless accompanied by actions. He was speaking Thursday on the sidelines of a Group of Eight nations summit in France.
Spain says it received the proposal from al-Mahmoudi and favors a cease-fire, but only under strict conditions. The British newspaper, The Independent, says Libya sent the offer to several foreign governments.
In the latest fighting, pro-Gadhafi forces exchanged fire with rebels on the outskirts of the rebel-held western town of Misrata on Thursday.
NATO also carried out more airstrikes on the capital, Tripoli - Gadhafi's stronghold. At least three loud explosions shook the western city late Wednesday. Libyan government officials said the NATO airstrikes hit targets that include a vocational school.
African Union (AU) leaders are calling for a stop to all military action in Libya to enable a political solution to the conflict. The AU issued the statement at the end of a summit in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
