A senior aide from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime has been in talks with the British government, the Guardian newspaper has reported on its website.
Britain's Foreign Office refused to comment on the the report which asserted that British officials met with Mohammed Ismail, a senior aide to Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam, for confidential discussions.
Citing a British government source, the newspaper said the meeting was one of a number conducted between the two nations in the last two weeks, and is believed to have addressed the possibility of an exit strategy for Gaddafi.
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Despite a low profile in Libya and internationally, Ismail is a key aide to Saif al-Islam and represented the nation in arms purchase negotiations, cables leaked on the WikiLeaks website revealed.
The FCO earlier told the paper that it would not provide a "running commentary" on contact between the two countries.
The report came less than a day after Gaddafi's foreign minister, Moussa Koussa, unexpectedly arrived in London and announced he was quitting his post.
Britain said Thursday it had not offered Koussa immunity following his arrival and urged other members of Gaddafi's "crumbling" regime to quit.
On Wednesday, British Foreign Secretary William Hague announced the expulsion of five diplomats at the Libyan embassy in London because of the threat they posed to opposition dissidents.
