The White House has said a letter from Libyan leader Moamar Gaddafi is not acceptable, saying the dictator should be judged on his actions, not his words.
White House officials have confirmed the letter from the Libyan president in which he said: “This country had already been subjected to embargo and sanctions, furthermore it also suffered a direct military armed aggression during Reagan’s time. This country is Libya. Hence, to serving world peace … friendship between our peoples … and for the sake of economic, and security cooperation against terror, you are in a position to keep NATO off the Libyan affair for good.”
White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters a cessation of violence by Libyan forces would be necessary before the White House could take seriously any words from Mr Gaddafi.
Carney said: “Words are different than actions.”
Earlier on Wednesday the official Libyan news agency JANA said Mr Gaddafi had sent the letter to the US following the withdrawal of US war planes from frontline NATO missions in Libya.
The report said: “Gaddafi sent on Wednesday a message to US president Barack Obama after the United States withdrew from the aggressive, colonialist coalition crusading against Libya.”
The agency did not report the contents of the letter.
Meanwhile forces loyal to Mr Gaddafi have been shelling the town of Misrata with rebels calling for tougher NATO action.