Tunis, Aug 20 (IANS): The Tunisian government has denied reports that the family of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was in Tunisia, Xinhua reported.

The interior ministry spokesman said: "Our teams are working around the clock to monitor border traffic. Neither Gaddafi nor members of his family entered the country in 2011."

Tunisian Radio Mosaique FM Friday quoted a Libyan rebel source as saying that members of Gaddafi's family have fled to Tunisia to board a Venezuelan plane bound for Caracas.

The report also said it was highly likely that Gaddafi himself was no longer in the Libyan capital Tripoli.

An uprising that began in Libya in February against Gaddafi's 40-year rule has already claimed thousands of lives, with Gaddafi's troops maintaining their hold in Tripoli, and a rebel group claiming its stake in Benghazi.

Thousands of people have left the country since NATO airstrikes "to protect civilians" began March 19 following a UN resolution.