French Foreign Minister Says Gadhafi 'Prepared to Leave'

We've heard this before, but never from someone as notable as France's top diplomat.

The French foreign minister said today that Moammar Gadhafi is “prepared to leave” office after nearly five months of war in Libya. Alain Juppe told reporters that an international consensus had grown in recent weeks, with nearly all of the relevant states agreeing that for the war to end, Gadhafi must step down. Juppe said Libyan officials had indicated the dictator was ready to do so, but wouldn't elaborate on what terms or on what timeline. Gadhafi has said he would rather die than leave Libya, leading some to suggest he face some sort of isolated retirement in his homeland rather than face exile or the International Criminal Court, which has issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of war crimes.