PLEASE DON'T COME TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD – AT 7:38 A.M. ET:  The exalted Libyan leader is reportedly trying to make a deal to leave:

Tripoli, Libya (CNN) -- Moammar Gadhafi is trying to strike a deal with opposition leaders, saying he will step down as Libya's leader if they can guarantee him safe passage out of the country and promise that neither he nor his family will face prosecution, an official with the opposition said Tuesday.

Musa Ibrahim, a government spokesman, vehemently disputed the claim saying reports of negotiations with the opposition are "lies."

Despite government denials, a member of the opposition says it has submitted counter-offers with several demands. Among them is a stipulation that Gadhafi has to immediately concede he is not the ruler of Libya, said Amal Bugaigis, a member of the opposition group called the February 17 Coalition.

The development comes as Libya enters its fourth week of bloody clashes Tuesday and there was little doubt that the situation had turned into all-out civil war.

COMMENT:  Obviously, this story cannot be completely verified, but it has been reported by several news organizations.  The next step might be for some outside organization, like the Arab League, to offer to escort Gadhafi out of Libya...if a deal with the rebels can be reached.

There are no guarantees here.  Positions can harden, and the civil war can continue and grow.  We don't know who exactly the rebels are, or how fanatical or rational they are.  This is hour-by-hour.

March 8, 2011