Libyan representatives are ready to hold more talks with senior U.S. officials, a Libyan government spokesman said on Friday.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is also encouraging his people to talk to rebels but he will not speak to the insurgents himself, the spokesman said.

Libyan oficials have held six meetings with senior rebel representatives, he added.

The spokesman said Libya was willing to meet U.S. government officials again, following a meeting in Tunisia last weekend at which Washington said it had delivered a clear message that Gaddafi must step down.

"There was a meeting in Tunisia between senior U.S. and Libyan officials. There was what we believe is productive dialogue," he said.

"We did explain many things to American officials. We realized they did not have the full picture; we corrected much misinformation.

"We believe other meetings in the future ... will help solve Libyan problems ... We are willing to talk to the Americans more," the spokesman said.

The spokesman said Libya, after five months of war and a NATO bombing campaign, remained "very powerful we are not falling; we are not falling apart."