The Libyan rebels’ National Transitional Council is denying reports of talks with Gaddafi regime officials in neighboring Tunis. Speaking in Washington, U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said Gaddafi’s days are numbered.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta: “Gaddafi’s forces are weakened, and this latest defection is another example of how weak they’ve gotten. So I think, you know, considering how difficult the situation has been, the fact is the combination of NATO sources there, the combination of what the opposition is doing, the sanctions, the international pressure, the work of the Arab League, all of that has been very helpful in moving this in the right direction. And I think the sense is that Gaddafi’s days are numbered.”