Updated: The government said tonight it will 'examine' a request by the Libyan government to monitor the ceasefire in Libya 'within the context of the full implementation of the United Nations resolutions'.

In its one-sentence statement tonight the government said:

"With reference to the press conference given tonight by Khalid Kaim, the deputy foreign minister of Libya, during which it was stated that the Libyan Government was requesting Malta, China, Turkey and Germany to monitor the ceasefire, the Maltese Government will examine this request within the context of the full implementation of the United Nations resolutions."

The Prime Minister in the afternoon revealed that he had received a phone call from the Libyan prime minister, who informed him about the ceasefire. Dr Gonzi said he told him that for the ceasefire to be credible, heavy weapons used against the people must be immediately withdrawn.

Meanwhile, Germany said it had dismissed Libya's request, saying that only the United Nations should carry out the task.

"It's the job of the U.N. and nobody else to observe the ceasefire or to decide how it should be observed," a German government spokesman said.

Germany on Thursday abstained in the United Nations Security Council vote for a resolution calling for a ceasefire and imposing a No-Fly zone over Libya.

Turkey has said it is evaluating the request.