Malta has not yet decided whether or not to recognise the Libyan Rebel Council, and a decision will be taken at the opportune moment, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said this morning.

Italy yesterday became the third country - after France and Qatar - to have recognised the Council as being the legitimate representative of the Libyan people.

Dr Gonzi yesterday had talks with Gaddafi envoy Abdul-Ati al-Obeidi and a government statement said later that Dr Gonzi had told him that Col Gaddafi and his family must go.

Dr Gonzi confirmed this morning that Mr Obeidi's proposals for a ceasefire did not include the possibility of Col Gaddafi leaving Libya.

Asked if a qualified majority could be attained in the EU to launch the emergency solidarity mechanism for the sharing of migrants, the Prime Minister insisted that the European Union had to be convinced that this was a situation that required everyone’s solidarity.

Efforts to convince other EU states would continue, he said.