Envoys say Gadhafi ready to go, says French FM

PARIS (AP) — France's foreign minister said today Paris has had contact with emissaries from Moammar Gadhafi who say the embattled Libyan strongman is "prepared to leave."

Alain Juppe said that while the contacts do not constitute proper negotiations, "everyone [involved in Libya's civil war] has contacts with everyone else. The Libyan regime sends its messengers all over, to Turkey, to New York, to Paris.

"We receive emissaries who are saying, 'Gadhafi is prepared to leave. Let's discuss it.'"

Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero stressed that the contacts with Libyans close to Gadhafi do not constitute negotiations. He also denied suggestions that France is acting as a go-between for Libyan rebels by passing messages when French officials meet with Gadhafi emissaries or that the French are taking a leading role in such contacts.

The rebels, "if they have the intention of sending messages," can do so themselves, Valero said at a briefing.