“If the bombing stopped, al Obeidi said, after six months there could be an election supervised by the UN,” BBC radio reported on Wednesday.

“The foreign minister said the election could cover any issue raised by all Libyans, anything could go on the table, including, he implied, the future of Qaddafi as leader.”

BBC television later broadcast one of the minister’s comments made during the interview: “It will cover whatever issue is raised by all Libyans.”

Al Obeidi said the Libyan government was “serious about a properly verifiable cease-fire supervised by foreign observers,” the BBC said.

He also criticized Britain’s decision to send military officers to advise Libyan rebels.

London said on Tuesday it would send about a dozen officers to help insurgents improve their organization and communications, but would not arm the rebels or train them to fight.

“He (al Obeidi) said that would only prolong the fighting,” the BBC said.

A NATO-led coalition is enforcing a UN-mandated no-fly zone in Libya, which authorizes “all necessary measures” to protect civilians from attack by Qaddafi’s forces.

It is also policing an arms embargo and has targeted Qaddafi’s military infrastructure.