France's foreign minister says US, European, and Arab and African officials are being invited to London next week for political talks about Libya.

Alain Juppe says a "contact group," including the United States, France, Britain and other countries involved in efforts to settle Libya's tensions, will meet in London on Tuesday.

A British government official, who demanded anonymity to discuss arrangements ahead of a planned announcement, confirmed the location and date of the meeting.

Juppe told French legislators Wednesday the gathering is aimed at showing that the "political piloting" of the international operation in Libya is not being handled by NATO, but by a broader group of countries. He says the African Union and the Arab League will be invited.