Government sources in Athens have confirmed an AFP report that Prime Minister George Papandreou spoke with Libya's Col. Muammar Gaddafi by telephone on Tuesday. The initiative for the call was made by Gaddafi.

Sources said the Greek prime minister listened to Gaddafi's views on events in Libya and emphasised the importance of a UN resolution in his reply, stressing the need to find a solution in order to avoid the emerging humanitarian crisis and any escalation of violence caused by the increasing number of victims that was raising the chances of civil war.

The AFP report, quoting the Libyan state news agency Jana, said the embattled Libyan leader had telephoned Papandreou in order to warn the European Union against interfering in his country's affairs.

"Any violation of Libya's security or stability would necessarily have dire consequences for the security in north Africa, the Mediterranean and Europe," Gaddafi warned, according to Jana.

He also termed Greece as "a friend of Libya that can pass on this piece of advice to the European Union," AFP stated.