The United Nations secretary-general, Kofi Annan, is in Libya, hoping to secure the hand-over of two men suspected of carrying out the Lockerbie bombing in 1988.

However, the official news agency JANA is casting doubt on whether Colonel Gadaffi, who it said is in a camp in the desert, will be able to meet Mr Annan.

And it says any decision on surrendering the men for trial abroad will be taken, not by Colonel Gadaffi, but by the general people's congress, which represents grass-roots local committees.

Libyan radio has announced that a meeting of the congress has been called for next Tuesday.

Mr Annan is reported to have met the Libyan foreign minister, Omar Mustapha al-Montasser, for talks in the coastal town of Sirte.

The UN Security Council has decided to suspend sanctions if the suspects are delivered to the Netherlands for trial.