Guinea-Bissau's prime minister says his country would welcome ousted Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi if he were to seek refuge there.

The comments by Carlos Gomes Junior were reported by Guinea-Bissau radio stations on Saturday.

Guinea-Bissau had strong ties with the Gadhafi government, which had investments in the West African country. Guinea-Bissau is not a party to the International Criminal Court, which is seeking Colonel Gadhafi's arrest.

The ousted Libyan leader remains in hiding.

It is not clear whether Prime Minister Gomes was speaking for himself or Guinea-Bissau's government. Guinea-Bissau President Malam Bacai Sanha has spent the past 12 days in Senegal for medical treatment.