Britain tells Libyan envoy Kadhafi must go

British officials met a top Libyan regime aide in London and gave him a “strong message” that Moamer Kadhafi must step down as leader, a UK government source said Friday.

Reuters

The source, who spoke to the AFP news agency on condition of anonymity, said officials made contact with Mohammed Ismail while he was visiting his family in London recently.

A key confidant of Saif al-Islam, Kadhafi’s powerful son, Ismail also represented Libya in arms purchase negotiations.

British newspaper The Guardian suggests that the meeting covered the idea of a possible exit strategy for Kadhafi, and that other such meetings have taken place over the last two weeks.

The UK Foreign Office has refused to confirm or deny Ismail’s visit.

Meanwhile, Germany’s foreign minister said today that the situation in Libya cannot be solved by military means.

“There can only be a political solution and we must get the political process underway. That should begin with a ceasefire that Kadhafi must heed,” Guido Westerwelle told reporters after a meeting in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart.