Qadhafi speaks during a live speech in this still image taken from video. Gaddafi struck a conciliatory note on Saturday, saying he was ready for a ceasefire and negotiations provided NATO “stop its planes”. – Reuters Photo

BRUSSELS: NATO says it wants Muammar Qadhafi's forces to end their attacks on civilians before it considers the Libyan leader's cease-fire offer.

A NATO official said Saturday that the alliance wants to ''to see not words but actions.''

Qadhafi called for a cease-fire and negotiations with NATO powers in a live speech on state TV earlier Saturday, saying ''the door to peace is open.''

But the NATO official said Qadhafi's regime has announced cease-fires several times before and continued attacking cities and civilians.

The official, who could not be identified in line with standing regulations, said just hours before Qadhafi proposed the truce, his forces indiscriminately shelled the besieged port city of Misrata, Libya, killing several people.

''All this has to stop, and it has to stop now,'' the NATO official said, adding that a cease fire must be ''credible and verifiable.''