UN Envoy Meets With Both Sides of Libyan Conflict

ZAWIYA, Libya (AP) -- The United Nations' special envoy for Libya said Tuesday that he was meeting with representatives of both sides of the conflict, days after rebels made a significant advance that brought them within 30 miles of Moammar Gadhafi's stronghold in the capital Tripoli.

Abdel-Elah al-Khatib, Jordan's former foreign minister, arrived in the Tunisian capital Tunis on Monday for the meetings with representatives of both Gadhafi and the rebels. He said there were no direct negotiations as he met the two sides separately in the neighboring country. A Tunisian security official said al-Khatib might also meet with a representative of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. That envoy has been on the Tunisian isle of Djerba for the past days.

Back in Libya, a rebel advance over the weekend into the strategic city of Zawiya on the Mediterranean coast, just 30 miles from Tripoli, put the opposition force in the strongest position since the 6-month-old civil war began to attack the capital. Residents were fleeing Tripoli in long lines of cars, fearing the fighting would soon reach them. Read More