Col Muammar Gaddafi has hinted that he is ready to quit Libya after 41 years in power, only if rebel interim council gives him a pile of cash and assures him immunity from criminal prosecution, a media report said.

The dictator is said to have proposed a meeting of the Libyan Parliament to agree a transition period to pave the way for him to step down. His terms include immunity from criminal prosecution and a pile of cash, Britain's 'Daily Mail' quoted Arabic TV network 'Al Jazeera'.

However, the rebel interim council, based in eastern city of Benghazi, reportedly rejected the offer because such an "honourable" exit would offend Col Gaddafi's victims, the report said.

Col Gaddafi allegedly sent Jadallah Azzouz Talhi, a former prime minister, to meet the rebels to work out the fine print of a deal. The offer proposed the dictator would hand over power to a committee formed by General People's Congress.

A source close to the rebel council said he had heard that "one formula being proposed by the other side would see Gaddafi hand power to the head of parliament and leave the country with a certain guaranteed sum of money".

He added: "I was told that this issue of money is a serious obstacle from the national council's point of view."

However, rebel official Ahmed Jabreel said: "Talhi is a close acquaintance of mine and he is widely respected in Libya. But we've made it clear all along that any negotiations must be on the basis that Gaddafi will step down. There can be no other compromise."

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