"They (the rebels) must lay down their arms. Then they can join the political process," deputy foreign minister Khaled Kaim said during a news conference late Tuesday.
He said the process could be guaranteed by African Union and UN observers "who will dispel any doubts".

An AU committee comprising the leaders of Mauritania, Mali, Congo, South Africa and Uganda would visit Libya next week to help find a solution to the Libya crisis.
A UN Human Rights Council mission will also visit Libya from April 15, said Kaim. Kaim denied that the rebel Transitional National Council represented the Libyan people.

Libyan government spokesman Mussa Ibrahim had said Monday that Gaddafi's regime was ready for negotiations on elections or a referendum but that the Libyan leader's resignation was not negotiable.