UN chief Ban Ki-moon said today that Libya had to stop its offensive against rebels before there could be discussions on international military strikes against Muammar Gaddafi 's regime.

Ban said he could only hope that the Libyan leader would keep his word after making a new ceasefire offer today

Speaking at the start of a 24-hour visit to Cairo, the UN secretary general said a halt to the Libyan army's offensive against rebel-held towns would be only the start to a resolution of the crisis.

"That is the beginning to have discussions," he said after the Libyan military announced a new ceasefire in response to an African Union call.

"I sincerely hope and urge the Libyan authorities to keep their word," Ban told a news conference with Egypt's Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi after talks on the Libyan crisis and a UN offer to help Egypt build a new political system after its revolution.

Ban said Libyan leaders had telephoned him at least twice in recent days saying they were going to observe a ceasefire. "They have been continuing to attack the civilian population. This (offer) has to be verified and tested."

Gaddafi's regime declared one ceasefire on Friday after UN Security Council Resolution 1973 authorised any military strikes and a no-fly zone to stop his forces harming civilians in the fight against the rebels.

His troops continued an assault on the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, prompting US, British and French forces to intervene with air strikes allowed under the "all necessary measures" provision in the resolution.