Libyan tribal leaders to meet in Rome

ROME, June 16 (UPI) -- Libyan tribal leaders will meet in Rome in the next few days to discuss the North African country's future, the Italian foreign minister said Thursday.

"There will be 200-300 people at this assembly, people who will really represent the whole of Libya," Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said, adding the meeting will "probably" take place next week, ANSA reported.

Italy proposed a national assembly at a recent Libya Contact Group meeting in Rome that would be "a great political assembly for reconciliation which will include all the tribal representatives from all regions and all social milieux," Frattini said.

Italy has been a leader in talks with Libya's National Transitional Council, which seeks the removal of strongman Moammar Gadhafi.