Libya's fugitive strongman Muammar Gaddafi has been denied refuge to Algeria, an Algerian paper has reported

According to the report, Gaddafi stayed together with his family in the town of Ghadames at the Libyan-Algerian border, but was denied an entry to Algeria.

"Gaddafi was trying to contact [Algerian] president [Abdelaziz] Bouteflika by phone, but he refused to speak with him," a source has told the Al Watan newspaper, as cited by RIA Novosti. However, Boutefika reportedly refused to cooperate.

Even though Algeria is yet to recognize Libya's rebel-led Transitional National Government, another Algerian official has assured Al Watan that the country has taken a clear neutral position and does not intend to interfere in Libya's internal affairs.

Algeria will in the future recognize the Transitional National Council as the government in Libya once it sets up a government representative of all regions, Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci told CNN on Thursday.

International talks will be held in Paris on Thursday amid the dramatic developments in Libya, where rebels have established control over most of the country. Gaddafi's whereabouts remain unknown.