The international Contact Group on Libya has declared that Muammar Gaddafi must step down immediately as head of the North African country.

The Libya Contact Group members, more than 20 countries and organizations gathered in Qatar's Doha to discuss a solution to the Libyan crisis, as fighting continues after nearly three weeks of UN-mandated airstrikes targeting Gaddafi's forces, DPA reported.

In a statement read by the Prime Minister of Qatar, the Contact Group declared that Gaddafi regime has completely lost its legitimacy, and that his resignation would allow the Libyan people to recapture their destiny.

The so called Contact Group discussed a three-pronged strategy to force a solution to the crisis - further sanctions against Muammar Gaddafi's regime, the pace of NATO-led air strikes, and funding Libyan rebel forces.

Around 3.6 million people will require humanitarian assistance because of the Libyan crisis, UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon said in his opening statement.

"There can be no military solution. We need to set a political process in motion," Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the NATO secretary general said. He added that NATO had so far disabled a third of Gaddafi's military apparatus in more than 900 air raids.

The Libyan Interim Transitional National Council (ITNC) called for access to some of the Libyan assets frozen abroad "to be used to ease shortages in food and medical supplies," ITNC spokesperson Mahmoud Shamam told the German Press Agency DPA.

The ITNC stressed it was unwilling to negotiate with Gaddafi and called for his immediate ouster.

"Gaddafi is facing charges of crimes against humanity and the entire international community is calling for him to step down, so how can we negotiate with him?" Shamam said.

Meanwhile the African Union (AU) said that achieving a ceasefire between Moamer Gaddafi's forces and rebel fighters would be its priority during the meeting.

"We will continue our efforts and we could return to Tripoli and Benghazi for more talks,' Noureldin Mazni, spokesperson for the AU, said ahead of the meeting.

The Contact Group meeting comes as NATO members appeared divided regarding the progress of the airstrikes, which came under NATO command ten days ago.

France and Britain have called for increased attacks against Gaddafi's troops, while the US said the mission was being carried out successfully.

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