Libya could hold free elections in six months' time, the man who replaced former Libyan foreign minister Moussa Koussa has reportedly said.

Abdul Ati al-Obeidi also told reporters that Muammar Gaddafi's government was willing to form an interim national government before a vote is held, as well as negotiate about the leader's future.

Al-Obeidi's comments came as Libyan officials slammed a British plan to send a team of military officers to advise rebels in an effort to break a deadlock between Gaddafi's troops and rebels.

British Foreign Minister William Hague said that the team would offer logistics and intelligence training to opposition forces in Benghazi, the opposition stronghold, to increase efforts "to defend civilians against attack from Gaddafi forces".

The UK government has insisted that the advisors will supply weapons to the opposition, although critics are accusing the British of getting over-involved in the conflict.