Morocco says working on political deal for Libya

RABAT (Reuters) - Morocco is seeking a political solution to the Libyan crisis, an official source at the foreign ministry said Friday after Moroccan officials met representatives of Muammar Gaddafi and rebels this week.

The source gave no details of how close any such deal might be or what it might entail.

"Morocco's efforts are limited to humanitarian aid and to working and contributing to reaching a political solution through dialogue," the source told Reuters.

Such solution should "respond to the aspirations of the Libyan people and ensure a return of stability which is extremely important for the Mediterranean and sub-Saharan Africa," the source added.

Late Wednesday, Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi Fihri met officials from the rebels' National Transition Council. Two days earlier, he met an envoy of Gaddafi -- a rare diplomatic contact between Libya and one of the staunch allies of the Western coalition seeking to overthrow him.

The source said Morocco favoured a political agreement within the framework of the United Nations resolution which imposed a no-fly zone and called for a solution that would meet the demands of the Libyan people.

"Nobody has asked us to mediate," the source said.

Morocco has been one of the small number of Arab countries and the only North African state openly involved in talks with Western powers over the Libyan crisis.

Several Libyan tribes have their origins in Morocco so the historical link is strong.

Less than two weeks ago, an African Union bid to halt Libya's civil war collapsed, after Gaddafi's forces shelled the besieged city of Misrata and rebels said there could be no deal unless he was toppled.

Foreign ministers of Western powers and Arab states called at a meeting in Doha last week for Gaddafi to leave power. Britain, France and the United States say they will not end their air campaign in Libya until Gaddafi leaves power.

The top U.S. military officer said air strikes had hobbled Libyan forces but the conflict was moving into "stalemate" as Gaddafi's forces pressed their siege of Misrata.

(Editing by Matthew Tostevin)