African Union leaders have offered to host talks between rival Libyan parties on a ceasefire and transition to democratic government, but left open whether there was any future role for Muammar Gaddafi.

The proposal was presented to representatives of Gaddafi and rebels attending a summit of the 53-nation grouping in the central African state of Equatorial Guinea.

"We will very soon launch talks in Addis," South African President Jacob Zuma told reporters, referring to the Ethiopian capital where the AU is headquartered. There was no immediate reaction from either side to the offer.-Reuters